Another year, another anti-everything rally on the Mall. The protesters insisted that 3.2 billion people showed up for the latest example of radical onanism; D.C. authorities put the number somewhat lower, but they're an arm of The Man, so what do you expect?

Cindy Sheehan was on hand to squander whatever moral heft accumulated during her Texas driveway campout, complaining that Hurricane Rita got more press coverage, topping off the weekend by getting arrested at the White House with a big grin on her face. She was also photographed hugging Jesse Jackson by a sign that demanded an end to the occupation of Palestine. Of course, "Palestine" is "occupied" as long as there's an Israel, or "Hymie Nation," as the good Reverend would have it. But that's off the subject. Impeach Bush!

At some point the adamantine skulls of the rally organizers might be penetrated by the realization that the "anti-war" cause is not served by letting the death-to-Israel crowd trot alongside, or diluting the message with a million other complaints. Middle America might have legitimate gripes with the administration's war policy, but its citizens are disinclined to side with hairy people who paint Bush as Hitler with dripping fangs. It's like holding a rally for lower taxes and inviting the Klan: doesn't broaden the base.

Consider the signage provided by ANSWER, an association of sclerotic collectivists, spotty anarchists and Kim Jong Il fans: "U.S. Out of Iraq, Haiti, Afghanistan, Korea, Philippines, Colombia, Cuba!" Yes, Haiti! No blood for ... for whatever they have. Skinny chickens. No blood for Gristly Poultry! Of course, it goes without saying that ANSWER would want the United States out of Afghanistan; it didn't want the Taliban overthrown in the first place, especially if the U.S. Imperial War Machine did the overthrowing. Better to let the Taliban drop stones on gays than give Bush something to smirk about.

Los Angeles also had a parade, studded with the usual smash-the-state flotsam. There were "No Blood for Oil" signs, the rally equivalent of shouting "Freebird!" at a Skynyrd concert. The Communist Party, a group that manages to keep a straight face when it calls for peace and freedom, was on hand, no doubt glaring at the Socialist Party: We will deal with those splitters later. One placard proclaimed 9/11 an "inside job," presumably planned to usher in our dark age of fascism, in which protesters are slushed in giant shredding machines and spread over Cheney-owned tobacco fields as fertilizer. OK, that doesn't happen, but wait until the elections are suspended in '09, dude ... FREE MUMIA! WHOOO!

Some of these folks might have marched in support of the Iraqi people before the war -- but only to lift the sanctions. Never mind if Saddam was let "out of the box"; what mattered was crippling the United States' ability to exert influence beyond the lower 48. (U.S. out of Aleutian Islands!)

The same idea animated last weekend's shambling gripe-fest: The U.S. is a ravenous death-beast responsible for all the world's ills, dude. (Oh, and Free Tibet.) If the U.S. retreats, goodness and mercy shall reign.

But while the People's Committee argues the finer points of distributing soy milk and organic honey, Iraq would become a haven for unopposed terrorists: purges, the end to nascent constitutional government, theocracy, al-Qaida triumphant. America would be revealed as the weak horse, a country that lacked the belly for the long fight. This is the message we wish to send?

Iraq isn't Vietnam, but it would be if we left. Mass death, tyranny, death to imperfect democracy and a grievous blow to American interests. The first three, however unfortunate, are the price the isolationist left is always willing to pay, especially if the corpse of the '60s is reanimated, complete with Joan Baez soundtracks. If only the National Guard could be persuaded to shoot some students again, it would be perfect. Besides, if al-Zarqawi takes over and slaughters his foes and imposes al-Qaida control over oil-rich Iraq, it's not like we're powerless.

We can always march and call him names.

Sept. 28, 2005