Why America needs a new antiwar movement – and how it can win | Jeremy Varon

The US Needs an Anti-War Movement Again

The Iraq War, launched in 2003, was a pivotal moment in modern American history. As Gen. Anthony Zinni said, "I spent two years in Vietnam, and I've seen this movie before." The devastating consequences of the war, including over 4,500 US military fatalities, were stark reminders that some leaders are prone to repeating the same mistakes. Fast-forward to today, and it's clear that the US is facing a similar crisis under President Trump.

The Iraq War Syndrome

In 2005, the bipartisan Iraq Study Group concluded that the war had to end. The subsequent election of Barack Obama marked a turning point, as he made good on his pledge to withdraw US troops from Iraq. However, with the rise of Donald Trump, the US is once again embroiled in a web of imperialistic aggression, including a military intervention in Venezuela.

Trump's Unilateralism

The current administration's approach to foreign policy is marked by a blatant disregard for traditional constraints and international norms. As Trump boasts, "I don't need international law." This reckless disregard for the rules has created a perilous situation, where the US is willing to kidnap and kill, bully and bomb without limit.

A New Anti-War Movement

The time has come for an anti-war movement in the US. The Iraq War Syndrome may offer some hope, as it serves as a reminder that even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges, collective action can lead to change. A robust, visible, and broad-reaching opposition to war is essential to preventing further escalation.

Lessons from History

The anti-war movement of the early 2000s played a crucial role in eroding public support for the Iraq War. The movement's focus on appealing to Americans' hearts and minds helped catalyze a turning point in public opinion, ultimately leading to the war's demise.

To replicate this success, today's anti-war resistance must build an effective coalition that includes both progressive and Republican voices. The left cannot alone restrain Trump; only a bipartisan groundswell can. Antiwar Republicans should be encouraged, not questioned.

A Bigger Dream

While pragmatism is essential in the fight against war, it's also important to dream bigger. The anti-Iraq War movement was right that the time to stop a war is before it starts. Once unleashed, the destruction is hard to turn back.

The tendency of empire is to overreach, and Trump's aggressive posturing is no exception. However, even small gestures, like Trump "chicken-ing out" on tariffs, can be seen as a sign of weakness. It's essential to take advantage of these moments to call off the current madness.

Hope for the Future

The anti-Trump resistance is rapidly incorporating anti-war messaging into its pushback against authoritarianism. Nationwide protests have taken place, with chants like "No Kings, No ICE, No War." These events mark a turning point in the country's trajectory, as more and more Americans begin to question Trump's strongman act.

While there are still many challenges ahead, the future looks brighter than ever. With collective action and a commitment to democratic values, we can create a world where unchecked aggression is a thing of the past.
 
I'm seeing way too much repetition here 🙄. We've been here before, folks. Remember the 2003 invasion? Yeah, same mistakes, different player. Trump's just playing his part in the global drama. The US needs an anti-war movement again? More like a dose of reality check 📊

People are already rising up against this authoritarian regime 💪. Nationwide protests, grassroots movements - it's not just about opposing Trump; it's about defending our values and way of life. We need to be strategic and united in our resistance 🔒

We can't let the right wing hijack this conversation either 🤬. Anti-war Republicans should be part of the solution, not just an afterthought. Let's build a coalition that's inclusive and effective 💡

The world is watching, and it's time for us to take back control ⏰. We can't afford to wait for Trump to make his next move - we need to be proactive and vocal in our opposition to war 🗣️
 
🌈 I'm kinda optimistic about this... We've been here before, like back in 2003, and look what happened - the US was able to reevaluate its priorities and come out stronger on the other side. And now, with all these protests happening across the country, it's clear that people are waking up and wanting change 🗣️. I think if we can get more people from both sides of the aisle to unite against war, we might be able to make some real progress 🤝. It's not gonna be easy, but I really believe that collective action can lead to some amazing things ✨.
 
💡 I think an anti-war movement in the US is long overdue! The current administration's approach to foreign policy is super concerning 🚫. We've seen some crazy stuff with Trump's unilateral actions and the way he's been willing to disregard international law. It's time for people to come together and demand change 🤝.

I'm loving the idea of a bipartisan coalition, though 🙌. It's not just about being anti-war, it's about being pro-peace and democracy 💖. And who knows, maybe if we can get enough people on board, Trump will start to tone down his aggressive rhetoric 😎. A girl can dream, right? 🤗
 
Ugh 🤦‍♂️, I'm so tired of these long, drawn-out articles on this forum 😩. Can't they just cut to the chase already? 🚨

Anyway, back to the topic at hand... I think an anti-war movement in the US is a good idea 💡, but can we please just get rid of the "I told you so"s about past wars? 🙄 It's like we're stuck in some kind of historical loop and nobody's moving forward. 🔄

And honestly, how are we supposed to have an effective anti-war coalition when there aren't any actual forums for discussion on this platform? 🤔 I mean, come on, can't we just have a thread where people can discuss their thoughts without having to wade through 500 comments of "agree" and "disagree" spam? 🙄

Let's focus on building an actual movement instead of just rehashing old ideas. And can someone please summarize the article for me, I'm getting a headache from all these tangents 💁‍♀️?
 
The US needs an anti-war movement again 🚨💔 it's crazy how some politicians just repeat the same mistakes over and over like Gen Zinni said he's seen this movie before 😂. The current admin is all about unilateralism and ignoring international norms 🙅‍♂️. We can't let that continue, especially with our military intervening in Venezuela again! 💥 What if we had a similar movement to the one in the early 2000s? If we worked together and got people from both sides on board, maybe we could stop some of this imperialistic aggression 🤝.

It's not about being anti-Trump, but rather stopping him from taking us down a path of war and destruction 😩. We need to keep pushing for diplomacy and peaceful solutions 💬. And I love how the protests are getting more and more people on board with anti-war messages 👥! It's going to take collective action and a commitment to our values, but I'm hopeful that we can create a better future 🌟
 
Trump's actions are getting outta hand 🚨! I mean, who needs international law when you've got nuclear missiles at your disposal? The dude's got some serious issues with accountability. We need to get people together and stop this war madness ASAP 💥. It's like, what's next? Invading Canada or something 😂. Seriously though, we gotta stand up for our rights as citizens and not let one guy ruin everything for us 🙅‍♂️
 
think its crazy times we need an anti-war movement again 🤯. agree that trump's approach is super reckless but not sure how effective building a broad coalition will be between progressives & republicans is hard to see eyes seeing different sides, but still gotta try lol. also, gotta admit hope its some kind of miracle that this new generation protests are making a difference we need more voices speaking out against this imperialism nonsense 🌎
 
I'm so worried about our country right now 🤯. It feels like we're being pulled down this same path again, but I refuse to give up hope 💪. We need a strong, unified voice against war and imperialistic aggression - it's time for us to come together as Americans and demand better from our leaders 💕. The anti-war movement of the 2000s was instrumental in stopping the Iraq War, and I truly believe we can replicate that success today 🙏. We need to support each other, listen to diverse perspectives, and hold our leaders accountable for their actions ⚡️. If we don't act now, who will? 🤔
 
🤔 think its super important for ppl to start paying attention to what's going on in iraq & venezuela, these places are getting caught up in trump's imperialistic games 🚨 and its scaring a lot of americans. an anti-war movement is just what we need, with people from all sides of the political spectrum coming together 👥 to show that war is not the answer 🙅‍♂️. we can't just sit back and hope someone else fixes it, we gotta be the ones to take a stand 💪
 
omg Trump's been in office for like forever now 🙄 and it feels like every 4 years America needs an anti-war movement lol what's new right? but seriously though i think its time for ppl to wake up and realize we're heading down the same path again...like "i spent two years in vietnam, and i've seen this movie before" Gen. Zinni said that and it still rings true 🤯 anyway i'm all for a new anti-war movement, but lets be real its gonna take some major effort from ppl on both sides of the aisle...even if we don't agree on everything 🤝
 
I think its about time for some good old fashioned anti-war activism in this country 🙌. I mean, come on, 4,500 US military fatalities in Iraq? That's crazy talk 😱. And now we're talking about possibly getting involved in Venezuela too? No thanks, let's not repeat the same mistakes of the past, you know? 🤦‍♂️

It really is time for some bipartisan action here. Can't just rely on the left to take down Trump, gotta get those Republicans on board too 🤝. We need to build an effective coalition and make our voices heard in a big way 💥. I mean, think about it, even small gestures from Trump can be seen as a sign of weakness... use that to your advantage! 😏
 
I just saw this thread and I gotta say, I'm so glad someone brought up Trump's aggressive foreign policy again lol 😂. As someone who's only now catching up on this conversation, it's crazy to see how prescient some of these comments were back in 2005 when the Iraq Study Group came out. The whole idea that a single leader can just disregard international norms and laws is super concerning 🤯. I think what's really needed right now is not just anti-war protests, but also a broader conversation about what it means to be an American and how we hold our leaders accountable 💡.
 
can't believe trump's being so blatant with his imperialism 🙄... i mean, remember how they said "we're not gonna make war" after obama came in? now it seems like trumps got a different script 📚... we need an anti-war movement again, for real this time 💪
 
🤯💔

[Image of a cartoonish "War Machine" with a megaphone, wearing a Superman cape and holding a giant "Stop War" sign]

😂👀

[Animated GIF of a person putting on sunglasses and saying "I'm not a warhawk, I'm just a patriot... with a pacifist twist 🙏"]
 
you know what's wild 🤯? how some ppl think pineapple on pizza is the best topping 🍕👀 i mean, i get it, but like, personally i'm team ham or maybe BBQ chicken 🤤 but hey, being an anti-war movement isn't gonna start with a debate about pineapple 🙅‍♂️ we gotta focus on making that change happen for our future generations 👫💖 and btw have you tried those new sour gumballs 🍭? soooo good! 😋
 
[Image of a person throwing a stone into a pond, with ripples spreading outwards 🌊]

🤦‍♂️💔 US needs an anti-war movement again? Like someone just got kicked off Twitter for making too many memes about it 😂

[ GIF of a group of people holding hands and forming a human chain 🔗 ]

Anti-war resistance needs to build an effective coalition with both progressive & Republican voices. Time to put aside the drama and focus on what really matters – PEACE! 🌟

[Image of a Trump face with a "broken" crown, surrounded by peace symbols ✨]

The tendency of empire is to overreach... and that's exactly what we're seeing right now 😳. Can we take advantage of these moments to call off the current madness? 🤞
 
OMG 🤯 like seriously what's going on in this country!!1! Trump is literally repeating all the same mistakes that Obama tried to fix after 2003!!! 😱 I mean I know he said some stuff about not needing international law but come on dude that's just reckless!! 💥 and the fact that we're back in Venezuela is just insane 🤯 what if it gets out of control?!?! We need an anti-war movement NOW 🚨 ASAP 🔥 like a repeat of the 2000s or something, where people actually cared about stopping the war and questioning Trump's decisions. And can we please get some bipartisan support?!?! This is getting ridiculous 😂 like I'm all for questioning Trump but come on guys let's just try to think about the consequences first 🤷‍♀️
 
the fact that trump thinks he can just bully and bomb his way through foreign policy shows us that true strength isn't about power, it's about people... we need to focus on building connections rather than trying to tear others down 🤝💬
 
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