"Young Americans for Freedom" hold anti-French protest

In the early 1960's right wingers met on the Connecticut estate of arch conservative William Buckley to form an ultra rightist student organization to counter the antiwar student activism of the day. The resulting group called itself the "Young Americans for Freedom" (YAF).

YAF spearheaded the campaign of Barry Goldwater for President. Goldwater ran as an extreme rightist, advocating a full military onslaught against Vietnam... "victory at any cost" was his slogan.

Goldwater and his YAF hooligans were so extreme that Lyndon B. Johnson took advantage and organized his own campaign for President around the spectre of a possible nuclear war as the result of a Goldwater victory. Johnson won, and went on to escalate the war against Vietnam.

In 1962 Ronald Reagan joined the YAF national board... where he still remains.

YAF started a campaign of red-baiting intimidation it called "STOP RED TRADE." The group targeted IBM, Mack Truck, Firestone, and other companies for trading with the then exisiting Soviet Union.

YAF begins offensive against the "Students for a Democractic Society" (SDS), and MOBE (short for "Mobilization againt the Vietnam War). YAF attacks the two organizations for being "un-American" and "Communist." YAF thugs start fights with student activists against the Vietnam war, and disrupt rallies and teach-in's at every opportunity. "Bomb Hanoi" became a popular slogan with the YAF goons. YAF calls for total U.S. military victory in Vietnam no matter what the cost. The group made Jane Fonda a target of their attacks... calling her a traitor and giving her the nickname "Hanoi Jane."

In the 1970's, when Richard Nixon went to China... YAF completely FREAKS OUT and accuses Nixon of "selling out" the conservative cause. Not even Nixon was right wing enough for the YAF.

In the late 1970's, YAF attacks President Carter for "giving away" the Panama Canal. YAF also condemns the "Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty" as an appeasement to Communism. During the Iran hostage crisis, YAF starts a letter writing campaign designed to pressure Carter to militarily attack Iran.

In 1980, YAF cadre... a bit older (but no wiser), fully support the reactionary Ronald Reagan as 40th President. YAF called for the military defeat and invasion of Nicaragua. They defended Interior Secretary James Watt, Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork, and Lt. Colonel Oliver North fromwhat YAFers called "attacks by the radical left."

YAFers supported the fascist mercenaries attacking Nicaragua, as well as the right wing death squads of El Salvador organized by the ARENA party of that country. What's most ironic is that YAF also supported the rightist Mujahaddin of Afghanistan. Reagan was pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into the war chests of the Mujahaddin so the "Islamic Soldiers" could defeat the Soviets. Just so happens one of the main organizers of the Mujahaddin was none other than OSAMA BIN LADEN.

Today the YAF thugs are mounting a campaign against France for it's stand regarding a war on Iraq. YAF is shrill in it's condemnation of terrorism and links the "Beast of Baghdad" to the 9-11 terrorists. Let's just be sure to REMIND everyone that it was the so-called Young Americans for Freedom who supported the backing, training, and arming of the Mujahaddin and Osama bin Laden back in the 1980's. But then... fascist right wing "birds of a feather" tend to hang out together.

Be on your guard antiwar activists. By holding a rally one day ahead of the March 8th International Women's Day antiwar march... on virtually the very spot were the antiwar activists are to gather, YAF is making it's presence known, and they hope to intimidate you. Watch your backs and protect one another. Keep away from the YAF goons... they are cowardly and known to attack in packs. Don't argue with them... they argue with their fists. Ignore them... they will go back to their sewers.