The strange case of why the Irish anti war movement never marched against the war in Libya

international | anti-war / imperialism | opinion/analysis

Friday October 14, 2011 16:22

by still anti war

What is the story with the invisable 6 month war in Libya? Have the Irish suddenly become pro war unlike during the attacks on Afganistan and Libya when marches were organised and tens of thousands marched against wars to topple Saddam Husein and the Taliban. It seems like "regime change" is ok on this occasion

It seems to be a mystery why Richard Boyd Barrett and the Irish anti war movement didnt organise marches against the war in Libya? Unlike the first gulf war and the war that led to the toppling of Saddam Hussein and the occupation of Iraq when dozens of marches were held, not one march was organised against the Nato bombings in Libya. The Military assault against the Taliban regime in Afganistan was also strongly opposed by weekly marches and protests, so it seems to be genuinely puzzling for many on the left who have raised this issue as to why there was barely a peep out of the formerly very active individuals such as Richard Boyd Barrett on the issue of Libya.

Anti war movements in other countries were active in opposing Nato but not the Irish anti war movement. Some people criticised the anti war movement in the USA for being less active since the Democratic Party achieved success in the Congress and in the White House elections but they still organised some protests against the war. That reason would not apply in Ireland presumably as we are much more at liberty to criticise President Obama than some US anti war activists would be. Perhaps someone on Indymedia could perform a useful public service and explain this strange dereliction of duty by the anti war movement.