The Spectator

Did the anti-war movement just save the Iraq mission?

When you hear people talk about the importance of the NetRoots in left-wing politics in the US they’re largely talking about MoveOn.org which was founded to try and get the country to move on from the Monica Lewinsky affair and the Clinton impeachment. It has now become a powerful voice in Democratic party politics and is one of the most strident anti-war organisations. In recent years, it has devoted most of its energies to opposing the Iraq mission.

But MoveOn might just have ensured that America does not leave Iraq prematurely. This week it greeted General Petraeus with an ad (see picture) asking if he was General Petraeus or General Betray Us. Accusing a four star general of treason is reminiscent of the worst excesses of the anti-war movement during Vietnam era and instantly transformed the atmosphere surrounding Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker’s report on Iraq, putting the Democrats

Britain’s best politics newsletters

You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Comments

Join the debate, free for a month

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first month free.

Already a subscriber? Log in