People are going to realize that if capitalism breeds imperialism breeds war, then unless we get rid of capitalism, war will recur and we will need to be prepared to fight. And if we say, OK, we eventually have to get rid of capitalism too, they will remind us how East Europeans and Russians have recently rushed back to capitalism. In reply we need to present a new post-capitalist vision encompassing economics, politics, gender, and race. To build a large, lasting movement we need to describe activities that can promote lasting change and show that our movement is sufficiently humane, participatory, and sensitive to come through uncorrupted. If so, you miss the point.
People know serious dissent can change their lives.
They know that if they admit U.S. crimes, they will either have to become radical with possible loss of friends and jobs, or else turn their backs on morality. People need faith in what they are doing, especially if it entails sacrifices. Building a new sense of self around hatred for war is not sustaining enough and tends to create bitter people unlikely to be effective organizers. To become radical requires jettisoning one's old self-image and it is hard to do this and maintain one's humanity without understanding where one is headed. Think about it.