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TechnoratiAmericans Against Escalation in Iraq
This summer, Americans Against Escalation in Iraq - a broad coalition of advocacy organizations and political action committees from across the political spectrum - has launched the Iraq Summer campaign to help end the war by making it politically toxic for Republicans to support it.
Tom Matzzie, Washington Director of MoveOn.org, is "on loan" to run Americans Against Escalation in Iraq. The national campaign has a staff of 100 people, a multimillion dollar budget, and a tall order as it embarks on this effort to unify opposition to the Iraq War in advance of the Petraeus report in September.
"The debate was set up in the spring as leading towards a September report," Matzzie says, "so that gave us an organizing opportunity and an organizing momentum going into the summer. The goal is to cut the remaining support for the president's Iraq policy out from underneath him. Give the Republicans a choice between helping to end the war or facing political extinction."
With over 80 paid organizers deployed across the country, the Iraq Summer campaign - which organizers say is modeled after the Freedom Summer - is focused on 40 targeted districts where Matzzie says "there is a lot of opposition to the war but very little grassroots leadership supporting an end to the war.... Often in these suburban and exurban Republican districts there's no institutional support for a campaign to end the war.... That's what a lot of Iraq Summer is about is building a permanent apparatus to oppose the war policy in these targeted areas. "
The organizers were trained at the Maritime Institute in Baltimore - a union training facility - and then assigned to 15 states across the country. Many organizers are veterans or their family members. Iowa State Director Sue Dinsdale is the mother of two Marines. Michigan State Director Tamarra Rosenleaf's husband has been deployed to Iraq. There are also Iraq veterans on staff in New York, Illinois, Virginia, and Kentucky, and three full-time staff in Washington, DC including the chief lobbyist, John Bruhns. Finally, dozens of veterans and their family members are in the field as paid staff and volunteers.
In addition to the 40 districts where the Iraq Summer campaign has sent staff (a fairly up to date list of targets can be found here - it's missing only Senator Mitch McConnell and Representative Jean Schmidt), Americans Against Escalation in Iraq reaches another 30 House targets through grants to local organizations such as the Connecticut Citizen Action Group. In all of these districts the organizers, veterans and military families, and activists are using field operations, coalition building, paid and earned media strategies, volunteer events and cutting edge online organizing to turn up the heat on Republican members of Congress who are blocking a safe end to the Iraq war.
"I think since the war began, for over 4 years, we've done a great job as a movement of going out there and saying, 'We oppose the War,'" Matzzie says. "But we haven't always brought the responsibility back to the politicians who are allowing it to happen. So we're changing the rhetoric from 'I oppose the War' to 'I oppose, [for example], Senator Coleman because of his support on the War.' And that politicization of the war policy helps put the fear into politicians, which is essential.... Ultimately the war ends because the politicians choose their own survival over sticking with Bush. That can be achieved only in the hometowns of these politicians where they count their votes."
The impact the campaign is having is already evident in the hundreds of videos activists are shooting (such as footage of Representative Mark Kirk ignoring an Iraq Vet). Americans Against Escalation in Iraq gave organizers $125 reusable video cameras - called " The Flip" camera - that plug into a USB port on a computer. The training of the organizers and activists is clear as they confront war supporters in an aggressive but normally courteous manner, and stay on message.
In addition to on-the-ground organizing, Matzzie says Americans Against Escalation in Iraq are countering the White House spin through the use of PR professionals. "We have for the first time a national, daily counterpoint to the White House and the media," he says. "We have PR professionals across two public relations firms and on our own payroll who are working every day to provide a counterpoint to the Bush administration in the press."
Iraq Summer will culminate with Take a Stand Day on August 28th. There will be about 60 town meetings held in targeted districts (the representatives are invited to attend - so far, no takers). In those communities where Representatives already support an end to the war there will be vigils to echo the message that it's time for Congress to take a stand - over 2,000 such vigils are planned. Matzzie says that MoveOn, Working Assets and True Majority are among the groups that will get the word out about Take a Stand Day nationwide.
Americans Against Escalation in Iraq doesn't plan to close shop when Congress reconvenes. If its fundraising success continues, it plans to keep its staff through December, adjusting its targets as needed.
"Ultimately what we have to do is make sure that the Republicans know we're not going away," Matzzie says. "We're gonna be in their faces until the war is over. If they still vote wrong, we're gonna stay in their face... And the sooner the politicians know that the sooner the war will end.... [And] if the Democrats don't hold Bush's feet to the fire this fall there will be dozens of primary challenges next spring."
There are some in the antiwar movement who think the Iraq Summer strategy isn't doing enough to hold Democrats feet to the fire. CODEPINK, for example, has occupied the offices of Democratic legislators who voted for a timetable but failed to limit war funding to a fully funded troop redeployment only (as opposed to Bush's escalation). In a recent article in The Hill, one CODEPINK activist called MoveOn "very conservative."
Matzzie, however, suggests that there isn't a problem with these diverse tactics. He notes that the partner organizations of Americans Against Escalation in Iraq usually take on the Democrats, but this apparatus takes on "mostly Republicans."
"It's gonna take a wall of opposition from the entire political spectrum [to end this war]," Matzzie says. "We're facing down a determined and isolated president. We're facing down the Republican Party, the entire foreign policy establishment, the military-industrial complex, Arab governments throughout the Middle East who don't want us to leave mostly because they don't want to deal with the problem, a Sunni insurgency, the Shia militias that are conducting ethnic cleansing.... There is a mosaic of people who are working to end the war. We saw work that was not being done, and we went to fill that vacuum. And that's what we're doing. And this apparatus is there, and it's well exercised, and at necessary times it can turn against any target any where in the country, regardless of their party."
Matzzie believes that the most important thing right now is "Outside the Beltway pressure on the politicians."
"What's most important now is that people know that there's a big showdown on the war this fall," Matzzie says. "We need people in their home districts to be marching and going to their town hall meetings, and making phone calls, and talking to their neighbors.... We have a genuine shot at bringing some troops home this fall. It might not be that we're able to win complete redeployment before the next president is elected but if we can bring home 60,000 troops that's 60,000 families who can sleep with a little more comfort."
It will be up to the entire mosaic - the entire "wall of opposition" - to stay in the faces of every Republican and Democrat until every soldier comes home.
Greg Kaufmann is a freelance writer residing in his disenfranchised hometown of Washington, DC.
Katrina Vanden Heuvel is editor of The Nation.
© 2007 The Nation
13 Comments so far
Show All"Deescalation of the war in Iraq " is equal to license for continuation of the war, but deescalated.!!! Once again the elites in the DNC and DLC try to split and neutralize the progressive and antiwar forces and bring them into their electoral fold. With a mish-mash of "antiwar", "atiestablishment" confusing and contradictory verbiage they want to minimize the growing resistance of the American people against the forces of US imperialism. This time their enchanting siren song to the american left is sung by their two prima donas, the Move-on and two editors of the Nation magazine. No surprise there.
It amazing what they call the "fog of war." So many people talking about this war,or occupation if you prefer. The answers are supposed to be so hard to figure out! If we leave it will be a bloodbath!! It's already a blood bath!! Do we want a slow never-ending blood bath like we have now or a gradual one side taking over. Like you have in any fight. One side wins the other loses. Call it what you want, withdrawal or "cut and run" but for God's sake get the hell out! But they wont they want the frikin oil rights,the bases,Bush's agenda,corporate globilization,Iraq has become like the violated defenseless child and our government isn't going to quit raping her till she has nothing more to give!! Its sickening the damage Bush has done in 6 years!! I just hope to God "good ol cowboy justice" prevails in the end!! YEE HA!!
This was a war of choice, we did not have to invade anyone. The invasion was based on lies and as such is illegal. Some would say that we are there now, so we have to stay, because it would become horrible if we leave. Just look at the news everyday, it is horrible enough now. The recent explosion in the north was perhaps an act of al Qaeda. If so, they are doing this to keep us there, we are the targets for murder. Without us there, there is no point in their staying and NO, I do not believe that they will follow us home, that is a fallacy. They will disband and go back to their home countries, the real al Qaeda wants nothing to do with them if they are not doing this.
More half measures and in this case one that plays right into the Republicans hands.
General Petraeous has already stated that he wants to start reducing troop levels by next spring. It looks like he wants to de-escalate but the fact is that the current rotation tempo is not sustainable and he knows it. Advocating what he already plans to do anyway just allows him and Bush to claim they are bowing to the desire of the people.
Lobo Gris
Nathaniel Heidenheimer:
Quit stereotyping academics, many of whom were actively working to prevent the Iraq invasion before it started. If you agree that folk like me are strategically important, then you can please quit smearing crap on us with that broad brush.
It does not surprise me that this comes from the editor of The Nation magazine. We know from Francis Stonor Saunders book The CIA and Culture about the CIA's backing of the left-liberal magazine Encounter during the cold war. They specifically funded a magazine for the tweedy professors, with 5of 6 articles being sufficiently left liberal. The 6th article would be designed to keep this small--BUT STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF WHERE THEY WERE ON THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM AND IN TERMS OF INFLUENCE ON STUDENTS-- audience sufficently on board with US Cold War objectives. It would not be the crude anti-communist article of the regular press, but specifically targetted for this audience.
The Nation is basically the exact same place as Encounter was on the political spectrum. So now getting out of Iraq isn't the objective is that right? Now the anti-war movement can be divided again. And now the monks in the universities can stay off the streets, keep thier tweeds bristling, read their nations while the satellites go who know's where?
Were monks any more silent in 1205? It's not just Bush that has put us where we are. It's what pretends to be the opposite.
Many of the paid organizers with be through with their obligation not to utter the impeachment word after the 28th event. Hopefully they will take the energy and raised consciousness of the public from their current campaign and place it behind the only true call of the day: THE CALL TO IMPEACH.
Can we please stop calling this a WAR. This is not a f-king WAR! Iraq is in a civil war. The US is not at WAR with anyone. The US is illegally occupying a sovereign country and murdering as many resistance fighters as they can. Is the US fighting the Iraqi army? NO! It's giving them guns! THIS IS NOT A WAR!!!
Progressives need start calling this what it is - an OCCUPATION. Every time we call it a WAR we are falling into the PRO-OCCUPATION camp trap.
Iraq remedy: The main necessity for extrication
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To extricate one's arm from a toilet, it's a necessity to first let go of the large shiny object you've wrapped your fist around.
A published pundit recently said that figuring out the Iraq situation was like "playing three dimensional chess in the dark while you are being shot at."
Personally, looking at the broadest issues, such as policy, I consider it more akin to "Go Fish.'
The actuality of how to deal with and accommodate or not accommodate the various parties goals and motives is logically inordinately simple.
A. America can neither stay in Iraq nor leave Iraq and have easy, cordial, aligned interests with any eventually arising central dominant force/government.
B. If America semi 'stands down' behind a multinational force the chances for a settlement and a hopeful future for Iraq (and the region) brighten.
C. Alternatively, if America insists on a continuing presence they should henceforth implement a tri-part Iraq. Post establishment of same, the U.S. could implement massive aid to each faction and a return to the time honored foreign policy of "bribe-the-dictator."
The metaphor I prefer for the Iraqi quagmire is that America forcefully shoved its arm into a deeply murky toilet to retrieve a bright shiny object. To extricate itself it simply needs to unclasp its rigid grasp and withdrawal will easily proceed.
This simple and logical opinion arrives at the same conclusion as that of the Iraq Study Group. Their advice was:
A. Inform the Iraqis et al that the U.S. will eventually disassemble their major bases in Iraq and leave. ("Let go of the shiny object!")
B. Form a multinational force (preferably with Arab country participation) to oversee security and policy making for Iraq. ("Take your arm out of the toilet.)
(--cognitorex blogspot--)
I have to second the SeriousProf and Greg R.
Bizarre and sad are only a couple of words that describe the mush above.
Even worse, these "baby step," efforts distract from real attempts at change like working for complete withdrawal ASAP, stopping a new adventure against Iran, pushing for impeachment, carrying on the fights for national health insurance and a living wage, etc.
Maybe Rove left the White House to consult with these "Against Escalation," folks. He certainly couldn't do much more destructive to the progressive movement.
Oh, by the way, a top US military commander announced today that the "surge," will begin winding down pretty soon. He implied that basically, the military is unable to logistically sustain the new level of violence it has created.
Also, I worry very much that it could mean they need to re-deploy troops for an attack on Iran.
This is all political doublespeak for I want to stay a player in the game. I don't want to really change anything.
Hoa binh
The name "Americans Against Escalation in Iraq" has such a sad ring to it. It gives the impression that cutting down on troop numbers equals success. As long as we have a few men and planes to bomb and strafe, we remain in evil do-do. It appears that this is the plan of the majority of our politicains, sad to say. I guess we have to go for baby steps. So, ring-a-ding-ding, whoop-de-do, hurah, hurah.
This is bizarre.
To be against escalation of the war clearly includes being for keeping things the same.
To be against a politician for his support of the war, and not against the war itself, clearly includes the mealymouthed technocratic critiques that most Democrats rely on.
Wars of aggression are wrong. Bombing the shit out of civilians is wrong. This is basic. How have these pundits become so bereft of their brains and humanity that they are incapable of saying so clearly and directly?
"Against escalation." Good f-ing grief!!