Posted on 08/11/2005 7:25:31 AM PDT by kristinn
It's easy to see why Cindy Sheehan, the 48-year-old mother of a soldier killed in Iraq, has become the new face of the anti-war movement, featured in a New York Times editorial on Tuesday and a Maureen Dowd column yesterday morning. Camped out in Crawford, Texas, near President Bush's ranch, she's a more sympathetic face than a lot of the alternatives. But as sad as Ms. Sheehan's loss is - and we don't belittle it - she has put herself in league with some extreme groups and individuals.
For starters, Ms. Sheehan has been posting on Michael Moore's Web site, writing, "We have such a strong coalition of groups. GSFP, Code Pink, Veterans for Peace, Military Families Speak Out and the Crawford Peace House.
SNIP
It turns out that the Crawford Peace House Web site includes a photo depicting the entire state of Israel as "Palestine," and it carries a link to a report that when Prime Minister Sharon visited Crawford, the "peace house" greeted him with an "800-foot-long banner containing all of the United Nations resolutions that Israel is in violation of." The Crawford Peace House site also features a photo of Eugene Bird, who has suggested that Israeli intelligence was responsible for the abuses at Abu Ghraib.
Code Pink, Veterans for Peace, and Military Families Speak Out all have representatives on the steering committee of United for Peace and Justice, an anti-war umbrella group. They share that distinction with the Communist Party USA. UPJ organized the march during the 2004 Republican Convention in New York, at which a New York Sun poll of 253 of the protesters found that fully 67% of those surveyed said they agreed with the statement "Iraqi attacks on American troops occupying Iraq are legitimate resistance."
SNIP
(Excerpt) Read more at nysun.com ...
Article Launched: 06/24/2004 06:00:00 AM
Bush, Sheehans share moments
By David Henson/Staff Writer
Since learning in April that their son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, had been killed in Iraq, life has been everything but normal for the Sheehan family of Vacaville.
Casey's parents, Cindy and Patrick, as well as their three children, have attended event after event honoring the soldier both locally and abroad, received countless letters of support and fielded questions from reporters across the country.
"That's the way our whole lives have been since April 4," Patrick said. "It's been surreal."
But none of that prepared the family for the message left on their answering machine last week, inviting them to have a face-to-face meeting with President George W. Bush at Fort Lewis near Seattle.
Surreal soon seemed like an understatement, as the Sheehans - one of 17 families who met Thursday with Bush - were whisked in a matter of days to the Army post and given the VIP treatment from the military. But as their meeting with the president approached, the family was faced with a dilemma as to what to say when faced with Casey's commander-in-chief.
"We haven't been happy with the way the war has been handled," Cindy said. "The president has changed his reasons for being over there every time a reason is proven false or an objective reached."
The 10 minutes of face time with the president could have given the family a chance to vent their frustrations or ask Bush some of the difficult questions they have been asking themselves, such as whether Casey's sacrifice would make the world a safer place.
But in the end, the family decided against such talk, deferring to how they believed Casey would have wanted them to act. In addition, Pat noted that Bush wasn't stumping for votes or trying to gain a political edge for the upcoming election.
"We have a lot of respect for the office of the president, and I have a new respect for him because he was sincere and he didn't have to take the time to meet with us," Pat said.
Sincerity was something Cindy had hoped to find in the meeting. Shortly after Casey died, Bush sent the family a form letter expressing his condolences, and Cindy said she felt it was an impersonal gesture.
"I now know he's sincere about wanting freedom for the Iraqis," Cindy said after their meeting. "I know he's sorry and feels some pain for our loss. And I know he's a man of faith."
The meeting didn't last long, but in their time with Bush, Cindy spoke about Casey and asked the president to make her son's sacrifice count for something. They also spoke of their faith.
While meeting with Bush, as well as Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, was an honor, it was almost a tangent benefit of the trip. The Sheehans said they enjoyed meeting the other families of fallen soldiers, sharing stories, contact information, grief and support.
For some, grief was still visceral and raw, while for others it had melted into the background of their lives, the pain as common as breathing. Cindy said she saw her reflection in the troubled eyes of each.
"It's hard to lose a son," she said. "But we (all) lost a son in the Iraqi war."
The trip had one benefit that none of the Sheehans expected.
For a moment, life returned to the way it was before Casey died. They laughed, joked and bickered playfully as they briefly toured Seattle.
For the first time in 11 weeks, they felt whole again.
"That was the gift the president gave us, the gift of happiness, of being together," Cindy said.
David Henson can be reached at schools@thereporter.com.
Sheehan is a liar and a fraud. When someone joins the military, there is always a chance that person will be sent to battle and killed. That's part of the job. Her son was NOT drafted for pete's sake; he voluntarily joined.
President Bush didn't kill her son - nut jobs in Iraq did. These people are insufferable.
Where were the stories in the NY Times about the angry families of the soldiers killed in Somalia? Most of these folks wouldn't meet with President Clinton because they despised him so. Where is that article, Maureen??
Oh I thought Bush acted like it was a party? Isn't that what she said recently? WHAT AN EVIL LIAR SHE IS! She is full of hate. I thought at first maybe she was being minipulated in her grief by these hate groups but now I see she is just like them!
And an insane, wacko, tax-cheating criminal.
Once these people go political and become "agenda driven", the gloves of sympathy come off.
She must be exposed and debunked, regardless of her "loss".
I love your tag-line...
For all you "feel sorry" apologists... I hate this sheehan b*tch!!! She defames her hero son's memory, and is a traitor to her country. Let's see how many of you "feel sorry" people feel something else when she is riding in the front of hanoi jane's bio-bus!
LLS
I am still hoping that Teddy Kennedy drives Hanoi Janes Bus!
:-)
O'Reilly and the rest find one mother out of 3600 plus parents who have lost a son or daughter in the war and we are supposed to "pay attention?"
It would be nice if FOX would invite one one of those 3600 plus parents who is proud of their child's sacrifice.
In fact I would venture to say that the networks could probably have a different proud parent on every night for the next ten years and not repeat.
These clowns in the media need to realize that we are at war and they need to get with the program!
The terrorists don't need any more help in the propaganda area.
Al Jazerra is doing a capable job already.
Semper Fi,
Kelly
The New York Sun has been breaking news stories as of late.
And I'd wager that he did so against Mommy's wishes. I wonder if this is nothing more than an attempt for her to get in the last word.
bump
Roger that ~ this about Cindy, not her dead hero son ~ Bump!
Sheehan is a liar and a fraud.
And an insane, wacko, tax-cheating criminal.
And after all this time camped out in the Texas heat, she is also a dirty, smelly, maggot-infested old hippie woman trying to relive the 60's in her make-shift commune. I've heard of trying to recapture one's youth, but this is ridiculous! God Bless President Bush and our troops!
do I REALLY have to say it???
It appears Cindy has taken up with people who wanted her son killed. Truely sick.
Not sure if he went into the service w/Mommys approval, but what she said one time proved she didn't want him to go.
On monday, she was on the Mitch Albom show on WJR. When he told her she was going to Iraq, she offered to drive him to Canada.
I'll tried to listen to more of her talking points, on other shows she never said that again.
BTW I don't have any links, sorry.
Hasn't she been arrested yet?
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