After all the talk and all the protesting it seems that those who went to Iraq in order to become human shields have had an epiphany; being a human shield is a bit dangerous. In fact, they have come to realize that it was such a dangerous idea that they have decided to leave Iraq before the military action starts because, and get this, they might get hurt. One cannot help but wonder if those who took to the streets so easily a few weekends ago in what was billed as the mother of all anti-war protests (which in reality was an anti-America/anti-Bush rally) actually did their homework, gathered all the facts from all of the sources that the 21st Century has to offer and then decided on their course of action. By the looks of it the answer is no.

As I watched the accounts on the news channels of this coming to pass I couldn’t help but shake my head and wonder to what extent these people are devoid of the ability to understand the seriousness of this situation. How can someone decide to go to a foreign land that is ruled by a shameless dictator, put themselves directly into harms way knowing full well that the will of free people from many nations and the might of the most powerful fighting force ever assembled is about to rain down on them and yet still believe that they won’t get hurt? The inanity of the idea is staggering.

The thought comes into play that these misguided souls actually are trying to reach into a time long past. Their belief that they are owed a cause for which to protest simply for "the experience” is one of the most selfish ideals to come out of the "it’s-not-my-fault” generation to date. Unlike their predecessors and heroes, the anti-war activists and protesters of the 1960’s, those who have chosen to take to the street this time lack the vision and the conviction of their 1960’s counterparts. Instead of protesting for peace they transparently protest against the United States and its leaders. Instead of making a stand with conviction and foresight they charge into situations that they are ill equipped to handle, cerebrally, emotionally and physically, only to find themselves having to retreat not in defeat but something much worse, humiliated embarrassment. It would be hard for me to believe that any one of the "human shields” felt that they had accomplished anything as they packed their bags and ran for the buses, their transport to the safety of a world afforded to them by the very people they chose to demonstrate against.

The political acceptance by the liberal-left and the mainstream alphabet media of the marching minority, or if you prefer the vocal minority, gives them a sense of validation even though they are lacking the wherewithal to gather all the facts before becoming drunk with attitude. I can’t count the number of times I have had conversations with those who choose to embrace this idealism. They adamantly try to explain that war is wrong but when pressed for a solution to the problem they stand there stunned, like a dear caught in an automobile’s headlights, devoid of any credible thought. Invariably, their answer is, "Well, Saddam Hussein is a terrible man and he needs to go but I don’t know what to do, I just know war is not the answer.” If only the world was that simply.

With that one statement, "I don’t know what to do, I just know war is not the answer,” it becomes quite apparent that these people have not completely grasped the seriousness of the situation at hand. Their vision doesn’t take into account that there are people living under the cloak of a brutal regime that dare not speak for fear of reprisal from the tyrannical puppet government that runs their country. They do not understand the terror that a family feels as their Mother is beheaded right in front of them simply because there is suspicion the Father condones subversion. They do not understand the horror that fills the souls of those in a household when the secret police smashes open the doors at three o’clock in the morning to take Fathers away simply because of what they think about their government. To the vocal minority this is all about the injustice of war waged by the United States on the civilians of Iraq. To the civilians of Iraq this is the moment they have been waiting for, their liberation.

As the vocal minority spouts their brand of one-sided misinformation I wonder if they see that Saddam Hussein is using them to further his agenda around the world. With all of the propaganda tools at his fingertips the one that gives him the most pleasure is that which is offered to him by the vocal minority of the free world. The news clips that run on the alphabet news stations are run and rerun on Iraqi television much to the delight of its brutal totalitarian and much to the horror of the citizens of Iraq. The only validation here for the vocal minority is that which the likes of Jane Fonda received during the Vietnam War. In the long run it is within their own souls that the turmoil will remain long after the Iraqi people are breathing the air of freedom.

Imagine what it would be like for a moment to be an average Iraqi citizen. You are home after a hard days work, sitting by your television set, if you are lucky enough to own one, with your family listening to the evening news from the state owned television station. You know that it will be just a matter of weeks until freedom comes to you and the people of your nation yet you know if you speak out about the upcoming conflict you will most likely be killed by your own government. You hold your family close as you dream of a better life and then the news clips come on showing thousands of people protesting the very action that will afford you the freedom they are demonstrating right before your eyes. I can only believe that they would have to feel a sense of helpless frustration having to sit there and see freedom and yet be forbidden to speak out about it. I am sure that makes Saddam happy, just as happy as it makes the Iraqi people sad. That being said, it makes me sad too, sad and angry.

Frank Salvato is a political media consultant and the managing editor for The New Media Journal.us. He is a contributing writer for The Washington Dispatch, GOPUSA, OpinionEditorials, Men’s News Daily, Canada Free Press & AmericanDaily. His pieces are regularly featured in Townhall.com. He has appeared as a guest on The O’Reilly Factor, The Kevin Matthews Radio Show (Chicago) and The Brad Messer Radio Show (San Antonio). His pieces have been recognized by the Japan Center for Conflict Prevention and are occasionally featured in The Washington Times and The London Morning Paper as well as other national and international publications.