One last thing, and it must be said: where the hell is the U.S. peace movement? Has there ever been more convincing evidence of the Left's irrelevance to American politics? Without even having heard the case against it, half the country opposes this war--but the usual suspects can only round up a few dozen people for the occasional protest. (There have also been ethnic Serb protests, notably one of 1,200 in Chicago.) Even during the Gulf War--which was much clearer and more defensible to most Americans--the beginning of bombing came with thousands of people in the streets, and enormous national protests called and held within two weeks. This time, a mere eight years later, absolutely nothing is going on--it's more analagous to the first few dozen people protesting Vietnam in the early '60s, a decade of organizing and cultural transformation away from being able to stop a war. Last weekend, 10 days into the bombing, 150 people marched in Capitol Hill-- an encouraging start, but still startlingly little.

But it's not that bleak, or at least shouldn't be. The Democrats just learned, in the very last election, what voter disgust with the habits of one party can do. The shoe's now on the other foot, as it's been mostly Republicans opposing the war among elected officials. Whether or not that's being done for strictly partisan purposes, and whether or not you want to abet that (can anyone believe, after six years of Iraqi civilian death through sanctions, that Clinton is any less of a war criminal than Bush?), the fact remains that organizing a loud presence in the streets, and/or a consensus public disgust with U.S. militarism can demonstrably have an impact. It is a large but not impossible order, but it requires that lots of people currently sitting at home, angry or depressed by this charade, do something about it. And that organizers give them something to do. This country's peace movement--if it even deserves the term--has of late shown no ability to organize beyond its immediate circle of friends, or to think strategically beyond the next grant or fund-raising letter. Or to think creatively, or to be willing to take chances. I have yet to talk to even one peace activist in Seattle even willing to consider organizing an anti-war rally in conjunction with right-wing opponents. "Sure, people are dying, but we can't work with them" reminds me, frankly, of the Balkans, and the sort of attitudes peace activists are supposed to be criticizing. The peace movement has rendered itself irrelevant to almost all of the country, and being caught flat-footed by this war is inexcusable. We've got a lot of work to do. Educate yourself. Talk to friends, relatives, neighbors, co- workers, strangers on the bus. Organize house meetings, study groups, mobilize church and labor and community groups. Write letters to the editor, pass out leaflets, write and fax and e-mail elected officials, reface billboards, talk with bands, create visible art. Raise money, stuff envelopes, turn out in the streets, bring your friends. Don't stop there.

For info on anti-war organizing in the Seattle area, call Nonviolent Action Community of Cascadia (NACC) at 206-547-0952.