Posted on 01/21/2005 5:46:01 PM PST by Former Military Chick
WASHINGTON — Pentagon police on Wednesday turned away family members of troops killed in Iraq who wanted to confront Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on the reasons for the war in Iraq.
The group of about 20 was stopped before entering Pentagon property by about a dozen officers, who told the protesters they did not have the proper permission to enter the building.
Organizers said they have been petitioning for the meeting for weeks, but department officials are ignoring their requests.
“The man who was too busy to personally sign the Killed in Action letters these families received is apparently too busy to acknowledge the request of the Gold Star families for this meeting,” Nancy Lessin, co-founder of Military Families Speak Out, told reporters gathered for Wednesday’s protest.
Five Gold Star families — ones who have lost a son or daughter to fighting in Iraq — brought pictures and letters to the event to present to the secretary, and asked police to pass the items along to illustrate their loss and grief.
Cindy Sheehan, a California resident whose son Casey was killed during a mission in Sadr City last April, sheltered a photo of her son from the snow with her arms as the group tried to convince police to let them by.
“I wanted them to see my son,” she said, weeping. “I wanted them to see the consequences of his actions. ... I have the feeling they feel he was a dispensable asset to them.”
Sheehan flew to Washington on Wednesday and planned to take part in the group’s inauguration protests on Thursday.
Department of Defense officials did not return calls seeking comment. Police who confronted the families offered numbers where protesters could obtain permits and set up formal interviews, but said security concerns prohibited allowing any of the group onto Pentagon grounds.
Lessin, whose son recently returned from his overseas service, said the goal of both protests is to show the war in Iraq is “a reckless military misadventure that never should have happened.”
“Shame on Secretary Rumsfeld for not recognizing these families, and shame on those who sent our children to war based on lies,” she said.
Families said they also wanted Rumsfeld to explain why troops in many cases weren’t properly trained or equipped for the fighting, and when the other troops will be brought home.
“We’re here to try and bring the truth to the Pentagon,” said Celeste Zappala, a Philadelphia resident whose son Sherwood was killed in Baghdad last April.
You must file the proper paperwork to protest. I have not doubt in their numerous calls that they were directed on what to do. But, oh the media, they just come a running if they think someone is getting the short end of the stick as these
Nobody has forgotten the loss of our troops and feel like saying how dare you say this administration does not care, it is just upsetting.
Rumsfeld has offered many public remarks on the subject. One just needs to listen
That's all true, but Rumsfeld has seemed to develop a tin ear for bad publicity lately. The media may be out to get him, but he's got to fight back smarter. Look at the polls. All this bad publicity is undermining the war effort.
I would bet these people were funded by Code Pink or ANSWER.
Well, this seems to sum it up to me;
http://www.nationalreview.com/thecorner/03_11_30_corner-archive.asp#020599
An Email from a Captain in Iraq
We knew there was a dinner planned with ambassador Bremer and LTG Sanchez. There were 600 seats available and all the units in the division weretasked with filling a few tables. Naturally, the 501st MI battalion got ourtable. Soldiers were grumbling about having to sit through another dog-and-pony show, so we had to pick soldiers to attend. I chose not to go.
But, about 1500 the G2, LTC Devan, came up to me and with a smile, asked me to come to dinner with him, to meet him in his office at 1600 and bring a camera. I didn't really care about getting a picture with Sanchez or Bremer, but when the division's senior intelligence officer asks you to go, you go. We were seated in the chow hall, fully decorated for thanksgiving when all kinds of secret service guys showed up.
That was my first clue, because Bremer's been here before and his personal security detachment is not that big. Then BG Dempsey got up to speak, and he welcomed ambassador Bremer and LTG Sanchez. Bremer thanked us all and pulled out a piece of paper as if to give a speech. He mentioned that the President had given him this thanksgiving speech to give to the troops. He then paused and said that the senior man present should be the one to give it. He then looked at Sanchez, who just smiled.
Bremer then said that we should probably get someone more senior to read the speech. Then, from behind the camouflage netting, the President of the United States came around. The mess hall actually erupted with hollering. Troops bounded to their feet with shocked smiles and just began cheering with all their hearts. The building actually shook. It was just unreal. I was absolutely stunned. Not only for the obvious, but also because I was only two tables away from the podium. There he stood, less than thirty feet away from me! The cheering went on and on and on.
Soldiers were hollering, cheering, and a lot of them were crying. There was not a dry eye at my table. When he stepped up to the cheering, I could clearly see tears running down! his cheeks. It was the most surreal moment I've had in years. Not since my wedding and Aaron being born. Here was this man, our President, came all the way around the world, spending 17 hours on an airplane and landing in the most dangerous airport in the world, where a plane was shot out of the sky not six days before.
Just to spend two hours with his troops. Only to get on a plane and spend another 17 hours flying back. It was a great moment, and I will never forget it. He delivered his speech, which we all loved, when he looked right at me and held his eyes on me. Then he stepped down and was just mobbed by the soldiers. He slowly worked his way all the way around the chow hall and shook every last hand extended. Every soldier who wanted a photo with the President got one. I made my way through the line, got dinner, then wolfed it down as he was still working the room.
You could tell he was really enjoying himself. It wasn't just a photo opportunity. This man was actually enjoying himself! He worked his way over the course of about 90 minutes towards my side of the room. Meanwhile, I took the opportunity to shake a few hands. I got a picture with Ambassador Bremer, Talabani (acting Iraqi president) and Achmed Chalabi (another member of the ruling council) and Condaleeza Rice, who was there with him.
I felt like I was drunk. He was getting closer to my table so I went back over to my seat. As he passed and posed for photos, he looked my in the eye and "How you doin', captain." I smiled and said "God bless you, sir." To which he responded "I'm proud of what you do, captain." Then moved on.
Poor Dears.
I certainly wouldn't want to have the grief of a son or daughter
killed in war.
But, to let yourself be manipulated over the corpse of a loved one by self-serving ''organizers'' is just awful.
These poor people were somehow convinced that ''confronting'' the Sect. of Defense was a legitimate approach. Their handlers are the ones with shame.
Your children died with honor. What would you want to smear that?
Ignoring a bunch of leftist parents whose kids volunteered to defend their sorry butts is the right thing to do.
These parents are not worthy of the children they spawned.
Something Rummy doesn't understand and hasn't experienced first hand while in the military? Should I assume these people don't know that the SecDef and his wife visit the wounded in the hospital on a fairly regular basis?
You'll excuse me for appearing jaded....but I'm sensing these folks are using the death of their loved ones to make a political point.
It's very sad to see these families and their communist media hounds pissing on the memories of these fallen service members.
If I were killed in Iraq and my family started moaning at the doors of the Pentagon I'd wish I could come out of the grave and set things straight. Let me die a soldier please, Mom.
Thanks. Stay safe.
Looks like these people were anti-war even before their kids signed up. Maybe the Fallen Ones didn't see the world through the same eyes as their parents.
There's not much to be said in favor of people who are such political fanatics they dishonor their own dead. It seems as if we've seen too much of that this past year.
I wonder if they are on Teresa's payroll, like the so-called 9/11 widows.
Thank you so much for posting this. I know from military men and women, they do love President George Bush. Oh, and yes I've gotten to meet the "other" military types. What angry, confused people..
I remember when that flight occurred. Rumsfeld has done it several times as well. Our fighting men and women know from where they come.
This woman has every right to be distraught, her son has paid the ultimate price.
I wonder what her son would say if he could see this situation ?
Would he be angry that she has taken his heroism and used it as a tool to defeat the very goal he was trying to achieve ?
No, he would probably say "take care of my mom, she is hurting and I can't be there to help her through this".
I don't ever want to feel her pain.
That brought a tear to my eye. Now, if this would have been plastered all over the news, the critics would say he was only doing it for political reasons. So he can't win. But our troops won, and that's all that matters. God bless America.
My prayer:
Father, please let these injured people go home and pray that You will deliver them from this pain of a loved one lost. To ask Your guidance that they may understand the horrors of war and that their lost one did not die in vain.
Go home and grieve and let the rest of the world get on with it.
Amen
FMCDH(BITS)
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