Sixties activist Tom Hayden calls it "the power of the street." Others liken the participants to the so-called "heroes" who protested the Vietnam War. And the environmentalists and anti-trade zealots around the world are shocked at the police brutality.

I am, of course, referring to the protests in Seattle launched against the World Trade Organization (WTO) last week. For several days, these protestors stormed around the Pacific Northwest bemoaning the conference and the organization on environmental grounds, among other things. You've probably seen the pictures of police dressed in riot gear to stop the more violent of the protestors, some even showing activists getting the tear gas treatment.

And, as always, the media coverage is deemed "unfair." Apparently, none of the dissidents had been the least bit violent or uncooperative. Rather, they were the innocent victims of a citywide effort to billy-club a few tree huggers. And if you believe this for one moment, the protestors have duped you completely.

No one needs to remind us that some of our people in law enforcement have abused their authority to mistreat criminals and protestors. It's an unfortunate fact we must deal with on a case by case basis. However, most if not all of the police actions in Seattle were simply a brutal reality resulting from the uncooperative protestors and the havoc they unleashed on the Northwest.

Of course, I've seen plenty of accounts describing the nonviolent protestors. I've witnessed the complaints about the use of rubber bullets and tear gas. None of these accounts can hide the multi-million dollar damage that has taken place. They cannot hide the fact that unfortunately, not all of the protestors were minding their own business and "not hurting anyone."

Yet the whimpering continues. And progressives fail to defend the inexcusable actions of the less peaceful rioters, often denying their existence. During the Vietnam War, there were certainly scores of peaceful demonstrators who harmed little else than their brain cells. But did we not also have the bottle throwing and shouting of "baby killer" by ungrateful cowards? This is now dressed up as "heroics" in an attempt to romanticize the protests of that era.

Face it: The idiots went and spoiled all of the fun for the nonviolent types dressed like sea turtles. Police had every right to quell any uprising that threatened local residents or their businesses. Once protests have "pushed the envelope," the city must respond to ensure safety and minimize damage to property.

So what if MoonChild takes a rubber bullet to the noggin, or one of his comrades gets a club to the knee? Volumes will be written crying out at these atrocities, but they'll blatantly ignore the duty and responsibility of the mayor and the police to restore order. And order is such a fascist term to protestors who don't get their way.

This situation would never have required police to put the smack down had all protests remained civil. As long as protests continue, police will be ready and waiting for anyone who breaks the law. I support "the system" and encourage them to keep one hand on the tear gas and one on the baton.

The views expressed in the Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

• Break out the tear gas