While Bush’s handling of the Iraq War has faced increasing criticism from the Democratic Party, the leading Democratic presidential candidates’ positions on other foreign policy issues shows they are no friend of the antiwar movement or working people in the U.S. or internationally.

Nearly two-thirds of the U.S. public now opposes the war in Iraq. But if we are going to end this war, we need to mobilize that anger to turn up the pressure on the politicians. That is why Socialist Alternative is working with antiwar activists around the country to organize a national student walkout this fall.

Throughout September and October, Congress will be debating the war in Iraq and reviewing the progress of Bush’s “surge” strategy. Congress will also be voting on Bush’s astounding request for an additional $200 billion to continue the war.

This summer, the Seattle School Board unanimously passed a new policy that placed some important restrictions on military recruiters in our schools. This was the result of a major grassroots campaign organized by Youth Against War and Racism (YAWR) and a coalition of antiwar activists, following a walkout of over 800 students in April against the Iraq War and military recruitment in our schools.

As a result of aggressive recruiting, for the past three years more youth from below-median-income neighborhoods are joining than from other neighborhoods. In 2004, 71% of black recruits, 65% of Latino recruits, and 58% of white recruits came from below-median-income neighborhoods.

In the face of big national problems like the war, young people often feel powerless. But the truth is, if we are well organized and willing to take a bold stand, young people can play a big role in ending the Iraq War.

Type “hidden camera catches army recruiter” into youtube.com to watch a recruiter talk to a guy pretending to be interested in joining the army. She says, “You get to serve your country, you get your education paid for, and you get paid to play in a band.” She continues to ask, “Who else pays you to play the drums?”

Last fall, the Democratic Party rode a wave of antiwar sentiment to take control of both the House and Senate. Millions of Americans voted in the hopes that they would end the Iraq War. Instead, the Democrats in power have given nothing more than noisy lip service to the antiwar movement.

As the war in Iraq drags through its fifth disastrous year, the potential power of the antiwar movement has never been higher. Young people, who are paying the most for this war with our lives and our economic future, need to step up our resistance this fall and help re-energize the wider antiwar struggle.

In 1935, the retired Marine General Smedley Butler reflected on his military career: “I spent 33 years and four months in active military service, and during that period I spent most of my time as a high-class muscle man for big business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism.” A lot has changed since 1935, but the underlying motivations for U.S. wars have not.

This summer, the Seattle School Board unanimously passed a new policy that placed some important restrictions on military recruiters in our schools. This was the result of a major grassroots campaign organized by Youth Against War and Racism (YAWR) and a coalition of antiwar activists, following a walkout of over 800 students in April against the Iraq War and military recruitment in our schools.

On May 28, Cindy Sheehan sent tremors through the political establishment when she announced she was leaving the Democratic Party, after the Democratic-controlled Congress handed Bush another $100 billion to continue the Iraq war. In early July, she announced that she will be running as an independent against Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi for her seat in the House of Representatives in 2008.

Iraqi workers have begun to take action to stop a new U.S. imposed law that would sell off Iraq’s immense energy resources to Big Oil.

Over 70 students and protesters held a sit-in at a Seattle School Board meeting demanding military recruiters out of schools. The protest shut down the meeting and was "the most dramatic anti-military recruitment rally to date" according to local press.

On May 28 Cindy Sheehan sent a shockwave through the political establishment in Washington, D.C. She announced that she was leaving the Democratic Party, after the Democratic-controlled Congress handed Bush another $100 billion to continue the war in Iraq.