It has been thirty years since the website Antiwar.com was launched. A defiant reaction to the Clinton administrations interventions in the Balkans during the 1990s. Founded by the late Justin Raimondo and Eric Garris, the site went on to become a platform of information and reporting against US military interventions, and eventually as opposition to all wars. Though, often criticised for being “right wing”, the founders from the modern American tradition of libertarianism. Antiwar.com is principally anti-war, and has contributors and writers from all spectrum’s of politics. The main mission being, peace.
In the thirty years since Antiwar.com was founded, there has not been a decrease in war or US military interventions. Unfortunately, there has been an increase. The website and its dedicated writers and the journalists they cite, not to mention the behind the scenes crew and those involved in the multimedia front remain vigilant and dedicated to the cause for peace.
There is a bitter sweet dignity in opposing war, while on the surface it may seem as a universal belief held by most people. It’s less common than many would realise. There is always a war, or an intervention that proves an exception for many people. Always, a coercive action, an innocent life that should be killed, the victims of policy a reasonable calculation made by those far in the distance, all by those who consider themselves as good and moral people. If not pragmatic. Antiwar.com provides a challenge to power, all power and retains a consistency. If does not bow to preferred nations, or ideologies and instead champions the innocent.
The Libertarian Institute is a sibling of sorts to Antiwar.com. They share some of the same people and are each focused on human liberty, ending the wars. The concept and ideal of Antiwar.com is one that has stood for three decades, seen countless contributors, each with passion and dedication expressing a plea for peace. Reporting on the wars and conflicts with speed and honesty, even in the heated moments of uncertainty.
To those who have dedicated themselves to the Antiwar.com project do so, not for fame or wealth. There are far easier things people of such talent and dedication could focus their energies on. Instead they do so with modesty and humble silence. The nature of war, indifference from the wider population and cynicism of those in power is a toll that wanes on them. To look at the images, the footage of death, human misery, to read the reports, and articles on the policies of indifference to those from the ground where the stench of death and tears of the bereaved are real, wears on the human spirit and haunts the mind. Those dedicated to Antiwar.com don’t see the dead as statistics or the innocent as a ‘them’. They seen them as human beings, no different from themselves.
On the podcast and multi-media front, Antiwar.com with Dave DeCamp , Kyle Anzalone and Connor Freeman have kept up with consistent reporting on the wars and what is occurring for those who may have no time to read the articles or explore the news feed. They do so, following in the footsteps of Scott Horton who over the decades, with thousands of interviews has put anti war and antiwar.com at the forefront of his show with the spirit of the website in the pages of his books.
The writers over the years have been hard to count, Doug Bandow, Ted Carpenter, Ramzy Baroud, Pat Buchanan, David Stockman, Daniel Larison, Ted Snider, Danny Sjursen, Ray McGovern, Sheldon Richman, David R. Henderson, and Matthew Barganier. To, Jason Ditz, Praful Bidwai, Alan Bock, Bevin Chu, Mike Ewens, Emmanuel Goldstein, Ran HaCohen, Stella Jatras, Nebojsa Malic, Sascha Matuszak, Christopher Montgomery, Joseph Stromberg, Gene Berkman, Tom Engelhardt, Sam Koritz, Neil Maccalder, John McCarthy, Tracey Milton, Pete Papageorge, Mark A. Petricevic, Rick Rozoff, and Elizabeth Wisniewska. Ramzy Baroud and Danny Sjursen. I know I likely have forgotten some, or neglected to include others. With Angela Keaton as a now behind the scenes executive director, who was once publicly campaigning for peace. With many more who work tirelessly behind the scenes.
It’s not that Antiwar.com is solely fixated on opposing the wars. It’s a landing page of original pieces and articles, with an extensive archive that goes back into the past. It’s an ideal which stands for human freedom, individual liberty, human rights in the purest sense of the word. The freedom to not be coerced, to not be killed and enslaved. It’s anarchist or libertarian in that sense, after all what exemplifies government and collectivism more than war itself. The belief that brutal and naked force can be used on a population to achieve an imperial or political goal, is terror, criminal, repugnant but above all government incarnate. The use of mass violence, to starve and murder thousands, even millions is perfectly legal when inflicted by a government, especially one with power. Small bands of killers, cartels and rogues, led by a warlord, when they murder and torture we understand it to be criminal. Antiwar.com does not disseminate. They speak for the innocent, regardless of who is doing the killing.
In the beginning, in those moments of lead up and during the onslaughts of death, many in the media and among the public and governmental class are certain of the righteousness for each war. They may have reservations in private, whispered concerns, outwardly they are on point with the message of war. Over time, whether because of defeat, attrition, the cost was too high or thanks to whistle blowers the many certain supporters switch and become critics. They can afford to change their minds, it may even be politically expedient to do so. They lost nothing. Antiwar.com is there from the beginning, before it’s popular to oppose the war. Even the wars many, in this moment, think should happen, Antiwar.com stands for peace.
This set of principles and code of honour, has also made the site unpopular at tines. Domestic political partisanship often sees the antiwar sentiments shift from election, not to mention the bigoted bias found inside nationalism or religion, whereby injustice can be ignored, overlooked or even justified so long as it’s the familiar or friendly doing such evil acts. Antiwar.com is secular in this regard. Internationalist, humanist, free minded and independent. To achieve this over thirty years takes both tenacity and willpower, which is only possible when good people stay the course. It is not filled with pacifist hippies, rather human beings who don’t support collective punishment and mass murder.
Behind the scenes and in their intimate moments, those involved at Antiwar.com are all human beings, they tire and waver. Though, regardless they persevere. It takes courage to defy power, to speak truth despite propaganda’s appeal or the emotional irrationality of the mob. Their is a determination of spirit expressed over the years, a human union that defies ideologies, religion or culture, the belief in peace. The fundamental and basic understanding that human beings don’t deserve to be murdered.
On a personal note, whenever I grow weary or stumble, I find strength in the work and consistency of those at Antiwar.com. I recall the first time I came across the site in the late 1990s, it had been shared on a fight forum. Someone posted an article, it sparked conversation. I returned often to the site. It’s format and up to date links and articles was a super power for knowledge. I may have been helpless but I was informed and found an energy in the existence of the page, the dedication of those behind it. In the 2003, protests against the Iraq war, I saw a lady who had written in texta on her shirt, “Antiwar.com.” I felt pride in seeing her in that makeshift shirt. I know feel pride in knowing those who work so hard behind the scenes. They are my heroes. I hope in time, more people find the site, are informed and become antiwar. The innocent, the planet deserves peace. If more people visited and read Antiwar.com, it’s safe to say it would be a better world.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies,” Ron Paul.
Happy 30th birthday and thank you all for what you do. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Yea of Peace to everyone.
