Posted on 02/23/2006 5:58:11 AM PST by PleaDeal
RAMSTEIN, Germany — Cindy Sheehan, mother of a soldier killed in Iraq and the woman who protested the war last summer outside President Bush’s Texas ranch, is scheduled to bring her anti-war message to U.S. military installations in Germany next month.
“[We’ve already heard] that Cindy Sheehan is like Hanoi Jane [Fonda] coming here,” said Elsa Rassbach, an event organizer with American Voices Abroad, which is supporting Sheehan’s trip.
But, she said, “We’re here to just democratically talk about U.S. policy.”
On March 11, protesters plan to walk from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center to a parking lot just outside Ramstein Air Base, where Sheehan will be at a “camp,” paying tribute to those who have died in the Iraq war.
“Cindy will be with us at Camp Casey Landstuhl/Ramstein to call attention to the fact that Germany is Europe’s logistical hub for the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and others threatening Iran and the Middle East,” according to an event flier. “Germany has the power to stop the further use of U.S. bases in Germany for illegal wars and criminal methods of warfare — the power and the right to just say no!”
Organizers are hoping to erect the camp — known as Camp Casey for Sheehan’s son — in a parking lot outside Ramstein Air Base’s west gate. The parking lot is under German jurisdiction, said Erin Zagursky, an Air Force spokeswoman at the base. Protest organizers are meeting with city officials in Ramstein and Landstuhl to gain permission for their event.
Sheehan’s goals are to bring the troops home and have peace on earth, she said in an e-mail to Stars and Stripes.
Her son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, 24, was killed in Iraq on April 4, 2004. Sheehan said in an e-mail she was too busy for a phone interview with Stars and Stripes.
“I don’t know anything about the visit,” she wrote. “It is being arranged by some people in Germany.”
With the Kaiserslautern military community home to more than 50,000 Americans with military ties, Sheehan could face a rough welcome. When asked for comment Wednesday on Sheehan’s upcoming visit, several soldiers in Kaiserslautern asked if they could be quoted anonymously.
One soldier, who recently returned from Iraq, did give his name but didn’t have much to say about Sheehan.
“Anything I would have to say about her, you couldn’t print,” Army Staff Sgt. Mark Genthner said.
Beginning March 9, Sheehan’s European visit will take her to Frankfurt, Aachen, Landstuhl and Ramstein in Germany. On March 13, Sheehan is scheduled to have a news conference in Paris, and the following day will address the European Union parliament in Strasbourg, France.
A protest organizer in Landstuhl said he was asked by others, including some of the 732 members of the European Union parliament, to arrange the protest involving Sheehan.
“The meeting with Cindy Sheehan is coming to us by an offer of members of the European Union in Strasbourg,” said Detlev Besier, a Protestant reverend in Landstuhl. “They asked whether it was possible or not to visit Ramstein Air Base and the hospital. It was not our idea. We were asked whether it was possible or not.”
On March 11, protesters would like to bring gifts, such as books, flowers and homemade goods, to the wounded troops at Landstuhl to show “solidarity to the soldiers wounded in the Iraq War,” according to the event flier.
“We want to make it very clear to soldiers and staff there, we are glad that there is a good medical facility for the wounded,” Rassbach said. “We just want less wounded troops and for this to go away.”
Officials at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center have received no requests for the group to visit the hospital or make donations, said Marie Shaw, hospital spokeswoman.
Rassbach said she did not know what response servicemembers would have to Sheehan’s appearance outside Ramstein Air Base.
“Some press and some opponents say that Cindy is coming as their enemy,” Rassbach said. “Our message is ‘support our soldiers, bring them home, take care of them.’ That’s what we’re about.”
We don't need that kind of talk around here.
If she doesn't watch her manners very closely, she will discover that the Politzi are quick with the batton. (Just hoping)
My sentiments exactly!
Thanks for the ping..."I THINK"!
Now I have to try to keep my breakfast down!
Yet another reason I wish I were still over there. I'd definitely drive up to Landstuhl for a counter-demonstration.
She will not get a warm welcome.
I talked to some German demonstrators once in front of the US Army Europe headquarters, and found them extremely nice. They went out of their way to show no animosity towards me or strike up angry debate, and just continued their quiet vigil. That I can respect, Sheehan's shrill and offensive antics, not.
Hm....
Think all the Muslim Extremists living in Germany will show up to help her protest?
She's probably also living off her dead son's life insurance.
"Okay troops, we found the location where the kidnappers are holding Mrs. Sheehan. Any volunteers to go rescue her?"
*crickets*
Coming soon, "National Disgrace's European Vacation"
Where's my Photoshop when I need it.
Yes they are, I've seen it. Within a second of resisting the Polizei a guy was on the ground having had a baton whacked upside his head. And the Polizei had the baton holstered to start with, it was one swift move from draw to WHACK!
Germans for the most part have no real concept of police brutality. When they see the Rodney King tape, their reaction is "He must have done something pretty bad to deserve that."
If Sheehan thinks the scuffles with her resisting the US police hurt, she's in for a serious wake up call as to the meaning of pain.
Old Sarge will not be posting to this thread.
Sarge is currently applying self-administered percussive therapy, in the form of banging his head against the wall, as a result of reading this post.
Sarge will be present for duty, as soon as the meds kick in and the work order for repairing the wall is processed.
Thank You.
Der GrabenHexe ist kaput, ja?? Ja!!!
Isn't this sedition??
se·di·tion 
( P ) Pronunciation Key (s
-dsh
n)
n.
diti
, sditin- : sd-, s-, apart; see s(w)e- in Indo-European Roots + iti, act of going (from itus, past participle of 
re, to go. See ei- in Indo-European Roots).]
Or would you call it treason??
| trea·son ( P ) Pronunciation Key (trzn) n.
[Middle English, from Anglo-Norman treson, from Latin tr  diti, trditin-, a handing over. See tradition.] |
| Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
Main Entry: trea·son
Pronunciation: 'trEz-&noun
Function: noun
Etymology: Anglo-French treison crime of violence against a person to whom allegiance is owed, literally, betrayal, from Old French traïson, from traïr to betray, from Latin tradere to hand over, surrender
: the offense of attempting to overthrow the government of one's country or of assisting its enemies in war; specifically : the act of levying war against the United States or adhering to or giving aid and comfort to its enemies by one who owes it allegiance —trea·son·ous /-&s/ adjective
| Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc. |
treason
n 1: a crime that undermines the offender's government [syn: high treason, lese majesty] 2: disloyalty by virtue of subversive behavior [syn: subversiveness, traitorousness] 3: an act of deliberate betrayal [syn: treachery, betrayal, perfidy]
On second thought -- I think it qualifies as both.
Riiiiiiiight. She's there to "pay tribute". The sooner she starts grieving, the sooner she'll be able to move forward with her life.
I'm so sorry!!! I had nearly the same reaction when the link was sent to me.
Thanks StarCMC - I agree it's both sedition and treason. Maybe she won't be allowed to re-enter the US.
Who's paying this witch?? She just won't go away.
I would pay some serious $$ to see the hag get a whack from the Polizei!
(I hope that statement didn't violate FR rules. If it did, I'm sorry)
It would be sweet, but I'd be shocked.
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