WASHINGTON (AFP) - Hundreds of thousands of opponents of the US-led invasion and occupation of Iraq (news - web sites) held new anti-war protests across Europe and the Americas, arguing that the regime’s collapse was no reason to let up the pressure.

It’s because these people are CAREER PROTESTORS. This is how they make their living. Most of the protestors are hired through newspaper and web ads seeking “protestors for hire”. It’s sort of an informal lobby group.

They will always find something to protest. Notice how they combine an anti-war protest with that of “end racism” or “save the spotted bull moose” protests.

As each of their arguments is proven to be ridiculous or insane, they move to the next. Notice how these began as “we need to protect our soldiers, so no war!” and when they realized our casualty rate was historically low for a conflict, they turned to “stop killing Iraqi civilians” chant. When they were forced to acknowledge civilians were NOT being targeted, and in fact we were doing everything possible to reduce civilian casualties, they had to find a new cause.

The switched to the “why aren’t the Iraqis cheering our presence?” cause. Then all of a sudden, they realized that once the threat of Saddam was definitely gone, Iraqis cheered the coalition forces tremendously.

Faced with that they’ve now gone to the “stop Iraqi occupation” rant. This will continue until they have to face the idea that we’re pulling troops out already and leaving a few key people to help Iraq get a new government in place.

In addition, they’re holding on to their last bit of “where are the WMDs” cause. Again, it’s only a matter of time before they’re found and a new cause is adopted.

A question I have for these protestors is this: If you’re so concerned with human rights, with the humane treatment of all creatures on earth…. why weren’t you protesting AGAINST SADDAM and his brutal tyranny and torture? Why aren’t you enviros protesting against the unregulated proliferation of nuclear weapons in Iraq, Iran, North Korea? Where were you when al-Qaeda was gassing thousands of animals in their biological weapons testing facilities in Afghanistan? Where was your outrage when Saddam gassed his own people? Where were your protests of Bill Clinton sexually harassing a subordinate while on the job? Where is your outrage for the practice of abortion? Why do you excuse the suicide bombers of Palestine as a “just cause of oppressed people” but blame America for atrocities when liberating truly oppressed people in Iraq and Afghanistan? Why do you protest for civil rights and then call Colin Powell (a beneficiary of the civil rights and affirmative action movements) a sellout? Why do you protest for freedom of religion and then tell Christians they can’t practice it in front of you? Why do you find it acceptable to burn the American flag, the very symbol of freedom and find it unacceptable to pledge allegiance to that same symbol?

It’s a job for you people, and one that appears to be recession-proof. You’re a joke and it’s time we IN THE MAJORITY called you what you truly are. You’re hypocrites living off the very government you protest daily and benefitting from the very freedoms you despise.

You’re a joke, plain and simple. Get a real f—ing job.