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In reply to the discussion: Today I learned everyone was against the Afghan war from the beginning [View all]Emrys
(7,286 posts)52. We turned out in what numbers we could muster.
We were not at all confused, and I deeply resent your claiming that we were, as I resented those who pooh-poohed our serious concerns at the time. We just saw the writing on the wall. That would come to fruition later in the war on Iraq, when many more turned out to demonstrate, but again to no avail.
But yes, they were desolate demonstrations against the grain of public opinion while the US was consumed by the desire for revenge for 9/11. It's just one of those occasions over the past half-century or so where the ability to say "told you so" is no consolation.
The proposed invasion of Afghanistan prompted protests with mass demonstrations in the days leading up to the war's official launch on October 7, 2001, the continuations of the war in Afghanistan has lead many to further protest and voice their opposition to hostilities.
On September 29, 2001, as many as 20,000 people demonstrated in Washington, D.C., United States, denouncing the impending United States invasion of Afghanistan. The protests were organized by the recently formed A.N.S.W.E.R. coalition. Thousands gathered at Meridian Hill Park (Malcolm X Park) and marched downtown, while elsewhere members of the Anti-Capitalist Convergence clashed briefly with police on their way to Edward R. Murrow Park, across from the headquarters of the World Bank and the IMF. Both groups of marchers converged on a rally at the Freedom Plaza.
In San Francisco almost 10,000 people converged on a park in San Francisco's Mission District to denounce the Bush administration's plans for military intervention in Afghanistan.
In Los Angeles roughly 2,500 protesters marched through the streets of Westwood.
In New York City 3,000 to 5,000 people took part in a peace march at Union Square.
...
In Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom, around 1,500 people gathered in George Square for a rally against the military action in Afghanistan.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protests_against_the_war_in_Afghanistan
On September 29, 2001, as many as 20,000 people demonstrated in Washington, D.C., United States, denouncing the impending United States invasion of Afghanistan. The protests were organized by the recently formed A.N.S.W.E.R. coalition. Thousands gathered at Meridian Hill Park (Malcolm X Park) and marched downtown, while elsewhere members of the Anti-Capitalist Convergence clashed briefly with police on their way to Edward R. Murrow Park, across from the headquarters of the World Bank and the IMF. Both groups of marchers converged on a rally at the Freedom Plaza.
In San Francisco almost 10,000 people converged on a park in San Francisco's Mission District to denounce the Bush administration's plans for military intervention in Afghanistan.
In Los Angeles roughly 2,500 protesters marched through the streets of Westwood.
In New York City 3,000 to 5,000 people took part in a peace march at Union Square.
...
In Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom, around 1,500 people gathered in George Square for a rally against the military action in Afghanistan.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protests_against_the_war_in_Afghanistan
I was part of the Glasgow demonstration.
Your questions downthread "... no need to go after Bin laden? Just let him go and hope he behaves and no more 9/11s?" echo the ridicule we faced all too often at the time. After a few decades of it, it's water off a duck's back. Bin Laden was not killed or captured as a result of the military action. The fact there have been "no more 9/11's" is a matter of good fortune.
Your trumpeted "success" of the early Afghanistan years encouraged the Bush II administration and the PNAC to their follies in Iraq. That success looks pretty hollow now, huh?
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Today I learned everyone was against the Afghan war from the beginning [View all]
Sympthsical
Aug 2021
OP
At the time, Afghanistan made a lot more sense than Iraq. But OCCUPYING a country is a mistake,
Hoyt
Aug 2021
#2
I know there were some people against the war initially but the vast majority were not.
honest.abe
Aug 2021
#60
He was flushed out of Afghanistan months after the invasion. That is a fact not guff.
honest.abe
Aug 2021
#66
My only argument for justification is for the initial invasion of Afghanistan.
honest.abe
Aug 2021
#74
That sense of urgency didn't stretch to tackling the country that actually supplied
Emrys
Aug 2021
#83
That's another topic that isnt directly relevant to the issue being discussed.
honest.abe
Aug 2021
#84
Nope. Many of us remembered the 9-year quagmire that was the Soviet-Afghan War.
GoCubsGo
Aug 2021
#41
The question being discussed is were you against the war from the beginning.
honest.abe
Aug 2021
#46
Perhaps you are right but at the time most Americans wanted to get him and get him quickly.
honest.abe
Aug 2021
#61
That had nothing to do with convincing the American people of the justification for the war.
honest.abe
Aug 2021
#68
That's so true. It was Saudi Arabia that financed 9/11 and Al Qaeda. Bin Laden's dad
BComplex
Aug 2021
#15
I supported the war with the Taliban, I did not support the war with Iraq, diverting troops and
Shellback Squid
Aug 2021
#13
Our involvement in the Soviet-Afghan war and it's aftermath lead to the power vacuum that allowed
CentralMass
Aug 2021
#32
Compare the number of people claiming to have been at Woodstock or the Selma March
MichMan
Aug 2021
#34
I begrudgingly supported going after Bin Laden but if I remember right, we sent in
chowder66
Aug 2021
#37
15 of the hijackers were Saudi, 2 from the UAR, 1 from Lebanon and 1 from Egypt.
panader0
Aug 2021
#54