Book Review: Waging Peace & Ending the War in Iraq
Posted July 23rd, 2008 by andy
The latest in our Staff Selections series, where we ask employees of Busboys and Poets to review what they are currently reading.
Waging Peace: The Art of War for the Antiwar Movement by Scott Ritter, and Ending the War in Iraq by Tom Hayden
Has The Peace/Antiwar Moment Failed? How Close Is It To A Win?
After over 6 years of internecine war, illegal government acts, loss of lives, money, and US reputation, one would think that the grassroots has been getting stronger and stronger with every failure of the Administration. However, the peace/anti-war movement had its high point in February 2003 and has been on a bumpy roller rollercoaster ride ever since. Some say the rollercoaster cars aren’t even linked up, aren’t on the same track, and few cars appear to be moving. Meanwhile the Bush administration and at least three of the leading Democratic candidates (Obama, Edwards, and Clinton) have all made the same threat to Iran: “All options are on the table.” Read into it what you will: “first strike”, “nuclear weapons” or even CIA-style destabilization. On the doorstep of a third, more devastating war, what should the beleaguered peace/anti-war movement do?
Two authors give timely and fascinating advice. Both books cost about $15.00–priced to be read by as many people as possible. They take different approaches and the authors may be in disagreement on a few points. But both are highly useful and can in fact be used together. And not just by the antiwar movement but any movement that must deal with the US political landscape.
Hayden’s “Ending the War in Iraq” is the rosier of the two. He is quite a cheerleader for the movement, seeing many positives in what’s been done so far. Before discussing the current antiwar movement, he has two chapters that cover a lot of pertinent history: Chapter One, the Vietnam Antiwar movement, and Chapter 2, the real situation in Iraq. The third chapter gives the history of the current Anti-War movement (from about 2001 onward). The fourth chapter is the core advice he gives to the movement: Put pressure on seven “pillars” or pressure points of the Administration’s Iraq policy. These are:
- The support of the Iraqi State;
- American public opinion;
- Political support in the U.S.;
- Military capacity;
- Financial resources;
- Our moral reputation;
- Global alliances.
These pillars and the specific strategies of how to apply pressure will give readers insight, hope and energy. Even if you disagree with some of the targets or some of the strategies, you come away with a new and vital way to start thinking about campaigns. And you have good lessons on how to strategize for yourself, and concrete action plans.
Scott Ritter’s book is thinner and darker. Way darker. Waging Peace: The Art of War for the Antiwar Movement is more directly critical of the movement. And by the way some peace activists – in particular Cindy Sheehan, have been critical right back. And Ritter has then replied to her with even more scathing criticism. What is the point of contention? Ritter recommends using lessons and strategies taken from war — from Sun Tzu to very recent Air Force strategies – to run the peace movement. This is not as crazy as it sounds, though obviously it’s tough for some people to swallow.
Remember, he’s been in the military most of his career and was one of the UN’s top weapons inspectors in Iraq. So he’s got an inside view of the military and dynamics in Iraq. He’s critical of the lack of coherent decision-making in antiwar organizations; he calls non-hierarchical groups “flat line” organizations. And he shows how advances in strategy that came from an Air Force Colonel can be used to outbox Military Recruiters, the Administration, and others opponents of the movement.
Word of caution – the book is slightly more abstract, talks more about the military, and his own history. If you are peace activist wanting to feel good about the last six years you won’t find much in Ritter’s book that will help you reminisce. If you want to think about where exactly movement organizations have stalled, and about new tools to make your operation efficient, pick it up.
Finally, both books are quite useful together. Hayden tells you where to put pressure and breaks it into concrete tasks. Ritter’s book focuses on your organization – making it stronger, faster, and smarter. Both can be used to turn the scattered roller coaster cars of the antiwar movement into a real formation. PS: In the activist section of Busboys and Poets are additional tool books for every aspect of movement building from fundraising to building membership. Years of hard won experience are concentrated into a bunch of books that may save you years of hard won experience.
Reviewed by Mark Cimino
