dave-quite clearly there are limits to the effectiveness of this sort of campaign/protest. i agree that capitalism/imperialism can only be defeated by an organised international working class. however i think that these sorts of protests/campaigns can act as a thumb in the dam to the neo-liberal attacks of the capitalist class. building worker power to go beyond anti-neoliberalism is, i agree, an urgent priority.

phil-the campaign is a defensive one against opening up our public services, environment, etc to US corporate control. it isn't about imaginary US domination but about real US corporate control over public policy. check out the effects of the us-aust fta on the Australian Trade Watch website, and then tell me whether you think NZers have nothing to lose. also, capitalist governments try and act in accordance with ruling class interests, however the state is a site of intense class struggle (in case you haven't noticed) and workers can win through political and industrial action reforms to the system. you obviously have no idea what workers value if you think a FTA with the US won't hurt them and isn't something to protest.

i don't believe there is any point in protesting against capitalism itself, ie there is no such thing as "anti-capitalist protest". you have to organise workers against capitalism. however you can have "antineoliberal protest", defending the welfare state etc. from the attacks of the capitalist class.
Omar