Posted on 07/31/2006 11:27:27 AM PDT by Citizen SMASH
AFTER WORK ON FRIDAY, I take the Red Line Metro train to Takoma Park, and walk a few blocks west to witness the Code Pink protest (and Free Republic counter-protest) outside the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
My first stop is to visit the Freepers and thank them for their support. When they realize who I am, they greet me like a conquering hero. Apparently, my successful efforts to drive away a similar protest outside Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego have made me somewhat of a legend amongst the Freepers.
A special treat on this Friday evening is the surprise visit by the charming and intelligent Diana Irey, who is running a bold campaign to unseat veteran Congressman John Murtha from Pennsylvania’s 12th District.
While I’m talking politics with Ms. Irey, I spot another familiar face: fellow milblogger CJ from A Soldier’s Perspective. CJ is an Army Master Sergeant and Iraq veteran who I first met at the MilBlog Conference back in April. I quickly talk CJ into joining me in a little reconnaissance mission down at the Code Pink protest site. Armed with digital audio recorders, our plan is to interview as many of them as we can individually, to ask them why they have come to protest outside a military hospital. The goal tonight is to listen, not to provoke.
There are only about a dozen protesters present this evening. We decide to start at the north end, and work our way south. (Each of the paragraphs below corresponds with an mp3 audio file. Click on the links to listen to the audio.)
Megan, a senior citizen who volunteers one day a week with the Red Cross at Walter Reed, is holding a sign that reads “Love the Troops, Hate the War.” Megan isn’t a member of Code Pink or any other political organization, but, in her own words, “a little old lady that lives in Takoma Park.” She says she comes to the Friday night “vigils” to draw attention to the wounded at the hospital, and to express her opposition to the war. She admits that she doesn’t tell the soldiers she works with in the hospital about her protest activities, because it might make them uncomfortable, especially considering how much they have sacrificed for their country. She can’t really reconcile her presence at the protest, which she believes is “supporting the troops,” with the fact that she doesn’t believe many of them would approve of her protesting outside the hospital.
Doug, a middle-aged political activist and volunteer for Kevin Zeese (an independent candidate for the U.S. Senate from Maryland), is holding an American flag. He says he’s been coming to these protests since February “to remind people about the costs of the war,” including soldiers “suffering from PTSD” and “exposure to depleted uranium.” He’s never visited any wounded soldiers, but he saw Michael Moore do it in Fahrenheit 9/11. Doug believes the weekly protests at Walter Reed began last year because the Army was bringing soldiers in under the cover of night (in order to keep them out of the eyes of the public), and Code Pink wanted to shed more light on the practice. He flies the flag because he wants people to know “we love our country, and we support the troops.” He admits the Freepers also come out to “support the troops,” but the difference is that he and his friends are “opposed to the war and occupation.” Doug compares the liberation of Iraq with Hitler’s invasion of Poland in 1939. Regarding Afghanistan, he suspects we’re there to “defend UNOCAL’s pipeline… running across Afghanistan” (such a pipeline was proposed in the late 1990s, but was never built). To back up his claim, he informs us that “the Taliban” visited Texas in 1997 to meet with “UNOCAL or some other oil company” (he learned about all this from watching Fahrenheit 9/11). Doug claims that “a lot of terrorism is the result of our foreign policy since World War II.” Specifically, he blames America for Iran’s Islamic Revolution (and its terrorist spawn Hezbollah), as well as the formation of the state of Israel, which is “unconditionally supported by the U.S.” Doug believes that a foreign policy based on “justice, peace, and goodwill” would eradicate the threat of terrorism in short order.
A heavyset, middle-aged man I’ll call “The Bouncer” wants to keep us away from the Code Pink ladies. But just as he’s trying to scoot us away, Code Pink founders Medea Benjamin and Gael Murphy show up. They had been serving ice cream to the homeless (no, really). The Bouncer directs us to Medea, who treats us with some suspicion before expressing a desire to “go talk to the Freepers” to “(get her) adrenaline going.”
Yes, this is the same Medea Benjamin who was recently arrested at the Capitol for disrupting the address of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to a joint session of Congress. She seems to enjoy making a scene.
While Medea rounds up her posse, CJ and I corner Gael Murphy. She appears to be the brains behind the group, and is not at all shy about being interviewed by two military bloggers.
Gael is eager to talk about her hunger strike. She’s on a liquid-only fast, which includes fruit juice and other sugary drinks – in fact, she complains of ingesting “too much sugar.” Gael says the hunger strike is “a deeper way to get involved” and “kind of a radical thing to do.” She finds fasting is a “spiritual experience,” and notes that it has helped her to lose a little weight (despite all the sugar she’s drinking). Gael admits to getting cravings, but says that fasting helps makes her “clearer.” She takes a “green leafy vegetable multi-vitamin” to get her nutrients. Gael tells us that she started the protest at Walter Reed last March to shed light on the Pentagon practice of sneaking in wounded soldiers late at night.
Our interview with Gael is interrupted by Medea, who is impatient to face down the Freepers. CJ and I walk alongside Gael, Medea, and a few of their their Code Pink posse as they head north along Georgia Avenue towards the Freeper position outside the main gate of Walter Reed. The whole thing appears to be a set-piece ritual. Medea leads the charge, and we follow a few paces behind with Gael. It’s not at all clear which side begins the shouting, but everyone seems to take to their roles with great relish. Gael remains absolutely calm throughout the confrontation. The show takes only a few minutes, as both sides trade insults and accusations before returning to their respective corners. I’m left wondering why Medea enjoys this so much, but she’s wearing a big grin on her face as we turn around and head back to the Code Pink protest site. She really gets off on this stuff.
Returning to my interview with Gael, I question her as to whether her purpose is to affect the morale of the soldiers who are committed to the war effort. She adamantly denies any desire to hurt the soldiers in any way, and insists that any soldiers who are still dedicated to the mission have been misled by their leadership. Gael boasts of having had several respectful discussions with soldiers passing by, but admits that many politely disagree with her point of view.
As the protest wraps up, Gael and The Bouncer tell me that the stories of Vietnam veterans being spat upon by anti-war protesters were all a myth. I tell them that my father was spat upon. The Bouncer goes apoplectic. I challenge him to call me a liar, or tell me my father made this up. He backs off, muttering about “anecdotal evidence.” Gael insists that my father’s experience is not representative of the Vietnam era peace movement, and certainly not something that she would condone. I further reveal that I have been called a “baby killer” by protesters in my home town of San Diego. Gael counters that the modern peace movement is made up of groups like Military Families Speak Out and Iraq Veterans Against the War, and that they respect people serving in the military. I acknowledge that I haven’t seen or heard any blatant anti-military statements from her group this evening, and thank her for taking the time to talk with me.
The protest breaks up. I go home and take a shower.
FAscinating article, SMASH! Thanks for writing it.
DC Chapter ping!
Wonder no more, Smash. She's mentally unstable, and may become violent soon.
The protest breaks up. I go home and take a shower.
I hope it was long and hot. You deserve it FRiend.
"...Gael insists that my father’s experience is not representative of the Vietnam era peace movement, ..."
I walked from the main terminal at San Fran airport to the bus that would take me to Travis AFB.
At this minute, reading what this idiot twit.... STOP.
I am on the verge of erupting into some of the most vile language I can muster.
Just anger, only anger.
ping
My favorite story about Medea Benjamin is the one where she goes to Cuba to support Fidel and "socialism," then wears out her welcome (by criticizing the regime) and is thrown into prison.
Too perfect.
Please FReepmail me if you'd like on or off the Irey/Murtha ping list.
What did Ms. Irey have to say about things?(code pinkers and the like)
They were a little taken back when she went down to talk with them. She found it was the same old line that we have heard over and over and over..........
Thanks for the *PING*
bttt
EXCELLENT!!!
Thanks SMASH! Now I don't have to do the AAR :)
That story is coming soon. Be patient.
Thanks for this excellent report and all your work in supporting our troops.
Help Diana Irey retire Murtha.
http://www.irey.com/
http://vets4irey.com/
http://www.bootmurtha.com/
Also, Hey SMASH, I listened to your audio files..... when Code Pink says they have always been good guys to the Soldiers at Walter Reed, show them this photo:
They only changed their tune/signs when FReeRepublic started calling attention and documenting what they were doing.
P.S. SMASH, how about mentioning http://Vets4Irey.com on your blog?
Thanks for being there and for writing such a great report for FR.
RATS!!!! You caught me. HAHAHAHAHA!
OK, I'll do it tonight.
Sorry, I can't endorse any candidates at the moment, being on temporary recall to active duty for the next couple of months.
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