Woman Demands To Speak With Bush

[visionary]

Soldier's mom protests near Bush's ranch

CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) -- The angry mother of a fallen U.S. soldier staged a protest near President Bush's ranch Saturday, demanding an accounting from Bush of how he has conducted the war in Iraq.

Supported by more than 50 demonstrators who chanted, "W. killed her son!" Cindy Sheehan told reporters: "I want to ask the president, 'Why did you kill my son? What did my son die for?"'

Sheehan, 48, didn't get to see Bush, but did talk about 45 minutes with national security adviser Steve Hadley and deputy White House chief of staff Joe Hagin, who went out to hear her concerns.

Appreciative of their attention, yet undaunted, Sheehan said she planned to continue her roadside vigil, except for a few breaks, until she gets to talk to Bush. Her son, Casey, 24, was killed in Sadr City, Iraq, on April 4, 2004. He was an Army specialist, a Humvee mechanic.

"They (the advisers) said we are in Iraq because they believed Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, that the world's a better place with Saddam gone and that we're making the world a safer place with what we're doing over there," Sheehan said in a telephone interview after the meeting.

"They were very respectful. They were nice men. I told them Iraq was not a threat to the United States and that now people are dead for nothing. I told them I wouldn't leave until I talked to George Bush."

She said Hagin told her, "I want to assure you that he (Bush) really does care."

"And I said if he does care, why doesn't he come out and talk to me."

Sheehan arrived in Crawford aboard a bus painted red, white and blue and emblazoned with the words, "Impeachment Tour." Sheehan, from Vacaville, California, had been attending a Veterans for Peace convention in Dallas.

The bus, trailed by about 20 cars of protesters and reporters, drove at about 15 mph toward Bush's ranch. After several miles, they parked the vehicles and began to march, in stifling heat, farther down the narrow country road.

Flanked by miles of pasture, Sheehan spoke with reporters while clutching two photographs, one of her son in uniform, and the other, a baby picture, when he was seven months old.

She said she decided to come to Crawford a few days ago after Bush said that fallen U.S. troops had died for a noble cause and that the mission must be completed.

"I want to ask the president, `Why did you kill my son? What did my son die for?" she said, her voice cracking with emotion. "Last week, you said my son died for a noble cause' and I want to ask him what that noble cause is?"

White House spokesman Trent Duffy said response that Bush also wants the troops to return home safely.

"Many of the hundreds of families the president has met with know their loved one died for a noble cause and that the best way to honor their sacrifice is to complete the mission," Duffy said.

"It is a message the president has heard time and again from those he has met with and comforted. Like all Americans, he wants the troops home as soon as possible."

The group marched about a half-mile before local law enforcement officials stopped them at a bend in the road, still four to five miles from the ranch's entrance. Capt. Kenneth Vanek of the McLennan County Sheriff's Office said the group was stopped because some marchers ignored instructions to walk in the ditch beside the road, not on the road.

"If they won't cooperate, we won't," Vanek said.

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Find this article at:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/08/06/bush.peace.mom.ap/index.html

[twa]

Sorry ,but I find this womans behavior disgusting. Her son volunteered to serve his country and this type of politicising his death is just wrong on many levels.

My only son has volunteered ,despite my trying to change his mind btw..

His Choice...His Life

[visionary]

I don't know if i find it disgusting or not, but she sure is pushing her luck.

She and her mob (who were blocking the street) already got to meet with the NSA and the WhiteHouse Chief Of Staff...

[BlueTalon]

"Why did you kill my son" is a bit over the top. CNN appears to be loving it, though.

[Mad Mike]

I don't find her behavior disgusting. I find it understandable on a purely emotional level. It's clear that she has enotional issues that she cant let go. It's got to leave a big scar to loose your son.

What I find disgusting are the people like Michael Moore who keep brainwashing people like her into believing her sone died for nothing when in fact all terrorists pool their resources and Saddam was a HUGE state sponsor of terrorism who had multiple documented contacts with al Qaeda. Let's also not forget that everyone including Clinton believed had WMD. Bush didn't jus pull that WMD thing out of his #ss. He simply accepted what everyone else believed. Not to mention the fact that the Duelfer report documents the fact that Saddam had retained the capability and had the intention to re-start his programs with the end of the (failed) UN sanctions.

People love to talk about how Iraq has become a training ground for terrorists. I've got a news flash. If they (or we) were not in Iraq THEY WOULD STILL BE TRAINING. But because we got rid of Saddam, we not only removed a state sponsor of terrorism, WE ARE TRAINING IRAQIS TO HUNT AND KILL TERRORISTS. That has GOT to be worth something. It's a shame that this woman has ben programed not to see that.

[TODD]

Originally posted by BlueTalon

CNN appears to be loving it, though.

No kidding

[redman]

I'm resentful of news organizations covering the grief stricken political statements of family members of deceased servicemen as if it's sage political commentary, aside and apart of the exploitative aspect of it.

[gstahl]

While I think she is pushing it and pushing her cause (which in the end we all do). I do find the comment interesting that Bush has not met with any families of fallen soldiers who are outwardly opposed to the war. I wonder if this is actually true. If so then I would say that he is using the deaths of these soldiers, for his noble cause, politically also (though in the end that is politicians do).

It would be nice to see him put himself in the difficult situation to have to answer the tough questions and not find the devoted follower to pitch the softball "we're all still behind you" comments. I guess in the end no recent president would have made that gesture. Kind of sad.

Funny observation... Note the google ads at the bottom of this thread. Maybe I should get the free laptop ;-)

[portisizzle]

If I were the woman I would want to talk to Clinton who did nothing about the rising threat.

[NoCalMike]

Just to make a side point: For all the national guardsmen who are killed in Iraq, their angry and saddened parents have every right to protest considering the national guard is not supposed to be over in other countries fighting wars, that is NOT what THEY sign up for.

[dreamingwolf]

Originally posted by NoCalMike

Just to make a side point: For all the national guardsmen who are killed in Iraq, their angry and saddened parents have every right to protest considering the national guard is not supposed to be over in other countries fighting wars, that is NOT what THEY sign up for.

nocalmike I know you know everything, and are morally superior to everyone and if everyone was cool enough to be like you the epcot center would be a reality but I think I have to share something with you.

The National Guard and Reserves have participated in just about every Major military encounter we have had since their origins. So while I will agree your statement is really hip and cool, it reeks of a feeble attempt to try to infect others with your own ignorance. I will say that it was a good job, and if an overly emotional person who really has no grip on reality read your words they would probably join your protest line.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Originally posted by dreamingwolf

nocalmike I know you know everything, and are morally superior to everyone and if everyone was cool enough to be like you the epcot center would be a reality but I think I have to share something with you.

The National Guard and Reserves have participated in just about every Major military encounter we have had since their origins. So while I will agree your statement is really hip and cool, it reeks of a feeble attempt to try to infect others with your own ignorance. I will say that it was a good job, and if an overly emotional person who really has no grip on reality read your words they would probably join your protest line.

Damn.

[Chief skin]

Originally posted by portisizzle

If I were the woman I would want to talk to Clinton who did nothing about the rising threat.

Clinton and Bush are both to blame for 911, Clinton had opportunities to get Binladen and paseed, Bush talks tough about getting Binladen and his top henchmen but 4 years later

he has nothing to show for it exceot tough sounding sound bites.

[twa]

This article gives more background on this woman and her son

http://mensnewsdaily.com/blog/malven/2005/06/cindy-sheehan-are-those-crocodile.html

This young man volunteered and REENLISTED before deciding to risk his life to save others in danger...losing his life in the process .

Anyone that would use his death for political reasons is DISGUSTING.

Any of you that lived thru the Vietnam era and the tactics used to dishonor brave young men simply doing thier duty will clearly see where this is heading.

[galentjm]

I feel for this woman, as I'm sure that her loss has been nothing short of a devastating experience. However, I wholeheartedly do NOT agree with this type of behavior, and personally I find this to be an example of misguided anger and grief.

It really is quite simple. If you join the military (and that includes the National Guard) chances are you'll be sent to war. If people are not prepared for such a scenario or are unwilling to risk life and limb in combat then DON'T JOIN THE MILITARY!

I am not an advocate of war, and I truly wish that war were not necessary. However, reality dictates that we as humans still live in brutal times and as a result wars unfortunately do occur. And when wars break out people die. To believe otherwise we be naïve.

Personally I find the woman's comments, specifically "why did YOU kill my son?", to be appalling. Regardless of how you feel about Bush or the war in Iraq, to directly or indirectly accuse the President of killing her son is ridiculous to the point of absurdity.

[SEF]

Originally posted by dreamingwolf

nocalmike I know you know everything, and are morally superior to everyone and if everyone was cool enough to be like you the epcot center would be a reality but I think I have to share something with you.

The National Guard and Reserves have participated in just about every Major military encounter we have had since their origins. So while I will agree your statement is really hip and cool, it reeks of a feeble attempt to try to infect others with your own ignorance. I will say that it was a good job, and if an overly emotional person who really has no grip on reality read your words they would probably join your protest line.

[Phat Hog]

What's there to discuss? She's already made up her mind. I feel bad about her loss, but her anger is misplaced here.

[BlueTalon]

Originally posted by Chief skin

Clinton and Bush are both to blame for 911, Clinton had opportunities to get Binladen and paseed, Bush talks tough about getting Binladen and his top henchmen but 4 years later

he has nothing to show for it exceot tough sounding sound bites.

...and a democratically elected government in Iraq and in Afghanistan, and a formerly terrorist-supporting, WMD-developing country (Libya) changing its ways, and hundreds of terrorists in custody, and thousands more dead. Apart from that, he's got nothing to show for it at all!

Originally posted by galentjm

I feel for this woman, as I'm sure that her loss has been nothing short of a devastating experience. However, I wholeheartedly do NOT agree with this type of behavior, and personally I find this to be an example of misguided anger and grief.

Personally I find the woman's comments, specifically "why did YOU kill my son?", to be appalling. Regardless of how you feel about Bush or the war in Iraq, to directly or indirectly accuse the President of killing her son is ridiculous to the point of absurdity.

I have a strong suspicion that rational thinking is not this woman's stong suit even in the best of times.

[Leonard Washington]

i feel bad for her and her reaction is obviously fueled by emotions. i would imagine lots of families feel similarly. just playing the odds, there are probably soldiers who disagree with bush also.

[BlueTalon]

Originally posted by Leonard Washington

just playing the odds, there are probably soldiers who disagree with bush also.

No doubt. I was serving during the Clinton administration, and I disagreed with him all the time.

The operative question is, how is that going to influence your behavior? Or will you have enough control not to let it?

[heyholetsgogrant]

Bush obviously did not kill her son, but We are forgetting...

[twa]

The woman is a tool

A little more info...sorry if a Druge link offends,but when you are dealing with sewage;)

http://drudgereport.com/flash4.htm

[BlueTalon]

Originally posted by heyholetsgogrant

Bush obviously did not kill her son, but We are forgetting...

You know, there's something about that picture that both fixates you and inhibits your ability to articulate a thought.

[TheGreek1973]

This woman can "claim" to have a case if her son was the only one killed in Iraq. What I mean is where was she when her son was still alive and serving.

[codeorama]

Maybe her son's ghost will come back and haunt George...