Suppression on Anti-War Movement, New McCarthyism

As the anti-war movement grows, a new type of McCarthyism is being resurrected, reported the Guardian on Thursday. The paper also reported that arrests and harassment of anti-war demonstrators have become a daily occurrence and American democracy is becoming another victim of war.

A citizen who refused to take off a shirt with, “Let us give peace a chance” was arrested in a shopping mall last month. He was arrested under charges of trespassing and civil disturbance in the shopping mall. Right wing WABC Radio recently mocked an old lady who was arrested in Pennsylvania for holding a sign written “No War for Oil” without permission.

Record sales of American group Dixie Chicks dramatically dropped after they declared they were against the war in Iraq. A radio station in Texas further agitated the no-buy campaign of the records and urged pro-war gatherings. This broadcasting company has affiliations with the George Bush family.

The Patriot Act, Free Shield Operation and others which were made by the U.S. government after September 11 Terror Attack under the name of terror prevention measures created a foundation for a pro-war atmosphere. The number of requests about the ‘Foreign Information Monitoring Act,’ which was introduced to block spies, has risen immensely.

As the war does not seem to have an end, there is now speculation that public opinion supporting the war may diminish. The Bush administration may be politically challenged by the anti-war public opinion as war in Iraq seems to be tougher than expected, the New York Times reported on Saturday. According to a Gallup public opinion poll, 40% of the respondents said they cannot support the war if there are going to be over 100 casualties. So far there are 24 U.S. casualties.

“As the situation of the war is becoming similar to that of Somalia where U.S. casualties were high, the possibility of losing pro-war supporters is also high,” said Allen Littman, a historian at American University.

McCarthyism was a campaign in early 1950 started by the U.S. government to ferret out and oust communists. Republican Senate candidate from Wisconsin claimed “204 communists are in the Pentagon” in February 1950. It was later reveled to be a just political propaganda based on groundless rumors.

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