Another possible explanation is the comparative awareness attributable to media coverage. A Nexis search of anti-war news reporting over the past year yielded these results: National news outlets – such as USA Today, National Public Radio and Cox News Service -- constituted 34 percent of the stories published in the last year. 

Media coverage of support the troops rallies has been significantly different. A search over the same time period had yielded zero international coverage. 20 percent of the total were national organs, 16 percent being the AP local news wire, which may or may not be carried in a given publication or broadcast. Two percent were government news releases and an additional two percent of the total turned out to actually be passing mentions of support the troops rallies in stories about anti-war demonstrations. The remaining 80 percent were carried in such publications as the Cheyenne Wyo. Tribune-Eagle, the Allentown Pa. Morning Call and the Winston-Salem N.C. Journal.

There were distinct behavior differences as well. Before the first speeches began at the Support the Troops rally in front of the U.S. Capitol reflecting pool, several men and women carrying the distinctive neon yellow ANSWER signs arrived. They went straight for the portable toilets that the Free Republic had rented. When they left, it was soon found that each unit was liberally smeared with various forms of bodily excreta. They had not yet left the area when the mess was discovered, but they were only yelled at as they hurried away.

Also present were about 50 members of the Protest Warriors, who carried signs bearing messages requiring a double take. Examples include: “WAR HAS NEVER SOLVED ANYTHING [then in smaller letters] …except Slavery, Fascism, Nazism and Communism” and “END RACISM AND SEXISM NOW … kill all white males.” They left the rally about halfway through the program so that they could mix themselves with the anti-war protesters gathered near the Washington Monument.

Protest Warriors had previously infiltrated a Feb. 16 San Francisco anti-war demonstration. Their website has a video of that event showing that there were some hostile comments and earnest discussions, but no violence erupted. Martin Sheen was recorded looking very uncomfortably in the direction of the Protest Warriors as he was escorted to the podium. Several anti-war protesters were asked what they thought of the Iraqi people’s treatment under Saddam. Seemingly surprised at the question, none were able to provide a coherent answer. 

One woman declared that if a dictator provides clean water and universal health care, “I like that dictator,” adding that Castro’s Cuba can boast one of the highest literacy rates in the region. Meanwhile, she went on, all that America is doing is “trying to kill everybody.”

Insofar as Iraq is concerned, ANSWER has gone on the record saying, “The anti-war movement here and abroad must give its unconditional support for the Iraqi anti-colonial resistance.” ANSWER has made no attempt to clarify whether this approved resistance includes sniper attacks and suicide bombings.

For the October demonstration, the Protest Warrior group reportedly walked silently with their signs, speaking only when spoken to. Within minutes of their arrival, a contingent of people wearing yellow vests with ‘ANSWER’ stenciled on the back gathered. Yelling “GET THE F— OUT OF HERE,” they formed a line and began shoving the counter-demonstrators away, some destroying signs. A five-months-pregnant woman was knocked down in the fracas. Her husband, David Fields told a Johnny P News reporter that when he told the ANSWER people she was pregnant, they replied that she would continue to be pushed so long as she remained. The Protest Warriors verbally complained, but did not fight back.

The independent reporter himself was struck in the head, “his camera knocked to the ground and then kicked by a man standing” with the yellow-vested people. No major media personnel were present. The police arrived afterward, and ordered the Protest Warriors to go to the other side of the street. Talk of pressing assault charges was quelled by a woman announcing from the stage that there were many people on the ANSWER side who were prepared to testify that the counter-demonstrators had assaulted them.

Meanwhile, back at the Support the Troops rally, a lone heckler arrived late to repeatedly give the NAZI salute and shout at Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa during his speech. He and the other Angels ignored this. The crowd formed a line between him and the speaker, but he persisted in trying to go around or break through as he shouted. A nearby Park Policeman was called in, the heckler finally being escorted away. 

Upon questioning, Park Police spokesman Sergeant Scott Fear explained that a permitted demonstration group has no authority to have their own private security team physically force unwelcome participants away. Doing so would constitute assault, he added. Instead, he explained, they must inform the police who have sole discretion as to how the situation would be handled.