I think the author makes the very relevant point of targeting liberal environmentalists who refuse to target the US war machine in order to remain "respectable" to ruling class authorities. Educated middle class people who engage in activism of any sort are often exceedingly careful not to go against the interests of the ruling class. Such people pose a major problem for activist groups. Their expertise is needed, but their views often shield the real underlying problems.
Most of these people have been thoroughly indoctrinated in the values and viewpoints of capitalism by their extensive educational experience. Read Disciplined Minds by Jeff Schmidt for details on this important subject.
Then when highly trained middle class people get into their careers they must play it safe in order to advance their careers. They play it safe by remaining within "acceptable" opinion limits. Jeff Schmidt's firing from the American Institute of Physics after his book was published illustrates what happens to people that stray.
When it comes to “connecting the dots,” European activists have it all over their peers in the US. In Europe, coalition-building between single-issue groups has long been a primary strategy. Most European activists view war, climate change, privatization and globalization as part of the same problem – corporate control of the political system.
