Sarah Stephen, Sydney
Journalist and film-maker John Pilger and former intelligence official Andrew Wilkie addressed a packed crowd of 1000 at a public meeting organised by the Stop the War Coalition on February 15.
Addressing the impact of the anti-war movement, Pilger said: "We should honour the strides that we've made. We have called [the warmongers] to account; they are in high panic. The US is losing the situation in Iraq."
Pilger pointed out that the judge who heard the case of Will Saunders and Dave Burgess — who painted "No war" on the Sydney Opera House — said they were part of a "radical fringe".
"Let's mock those two words — a radical fringe that's the majority in country after country; a radical fringe that brought half a million into the streets in Australia, and 2 million in the UK. That's my kind of radical fringe!"
Pilger implored people to recognise what had already been achieved, the way the anti-war movement had forced "the great power bases to panic, to cover their tracks". "In many respects, people have deterred another Iraq — at this stage. Al Qaeda is a speck on the radar compared with the danger now posed by the Bush regime and its vassals.
"Although these are dangerous times (and the greatest danger is from the superpower), it is also extremely fluid. Never have governments looked at a dissenting movement with such respect, anxiety and fear. In Britain, I have never known a protest movement regarded with such fear. The potential is vast — let's build on that!"
Pilger urged people to get involved, to join groups and not to make the mistake of simply looking on from the sidelines.
Many people took away posters and leaflets to build support for the March 20 rally, part of a global day of action against the occupation of Iraq, at which both Pilger and Wilkie will also be speaking.
From Green Left Weekly, February 25, 2004.
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