Georgia: where are all our anti-war protesters now?

IN 2003, somewhere in the region of 100,000 people in Ireland, and many millions more around the world, marched in protest at what they saw as the violation by the United States of the sovereignty of an independent country.

No matter that the leader of that particular nation was a sociopathic dictator who believed that even the most depraved act was justified if it served his purpose. All of this paled in comparison to America’s unilateral invasion (it being so convenient to forget about the participation of Spain, Australia, Britain, Poland, etc).

The flames of indignation in this country were fanned to a great extent by the various anti-war organisations and a number of their spokespersons became household names for a time. Even after the initial furore had died down, anti-war camps in Shannon and the actions of dedicated individuals kept the issue in the public eye.

Given the fact, therefore, that such organisations have proven themselves to be so commendably anti-war (not withstanding their silence regarding China’s support of the genocidal regime in Khartoum), I look forward to their immediate and vociferous condemnation of the Russian invasion of Georgia. I anticipate also that the people of Ireland will marshal in support of Georgia’s independence in much the same way as they did for that of Iraq.

I look forward to participating in the mass marches that the anti-war organisations will surely organise to protest against Russia’s truculence.

I look forward to the anti-war protesters monopolising the airwaves, as they did in 2003, to denounce the Kremlin’s belligerence towards Tblisi.

I have no doubt that all of the above will occur and that Russia’s actions will be roundly condemned by the Irish people not merely in words, but in mass protests akin to those witnessed against the US invasion in 2003. Anything else would surely smack of hypocrisy and moral relativism.

After all, those who so ardently protested against the invasion of Iraq will no doubt jump at the chance to protest at yet another illegal war.

I have checked the websites of the most prominent Irish protest groups, and while there is nothing whatsoever on the illegal Russian invasion of Georgian territory, I hope this will be quickly remedied. Soon those who were so quick to condemn America in 2003, will surely train their sights on the Kremlin and its illegal activities in the Caucasus, and the Irish people will yet again be given the opportunity to show their anti-war credentials.

Excuse me, however, if I don’t hold my breath. Anti-war in this country and in many others often seems merely a euphemism for anti-Americanism. If this Russian aggression is met with the same revulsion as the American invasion of Iraq, then I’ll believe that the ‘anti-war’ organisations and their many supporters are true to their ideals.

Otherwise they will have shown themselves to be mere opportunists, selectively choosing from among the catalogue of human suffering to further their own anti-American position. Those who profess themselves anti-war and willing to march to that effect should do so regardless of politics and national prejudices. If the Irish people and those groups to the fore of the anti-Iraq war protests in 2003 do not react with a similar intensity to the invasion of Georgia, then they will have sacrificed all moral authority in such matters to a petty and mean anti-Americanism.

Emmet Dunphy

Loughboy

Kilkenny