A Mother's Protest

A mother whose son was killed in Iraq says she is prepared to continue her protest outside President Bush's Crawford, Texas ranch through August until she is granted an opportunity to speak with him, evoking images that were commonplace during the Vietnam War.

Cindy Sheehan's 24-year-old son -- Army Spc. Casey Sheehan of Vacaville, California -- was killed in Baghdad's Sadr City on April 4, 2004. The Humvee mechanic was one of eight U.S. soldiers killed there that day by rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire. They are among the 1,829 American troops, including 31 this month, who have died in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003.

The president, who is spending a nearly five-week-long working vacation at his Texas ranch, said in a speech Wednesday that "the sacrifices of U.S. troops were made in a noble cause."

"I want to ask the president, why did he kill my son?" Sheehan told reporters. "He said my son died in a noble cause, and I want to ask him what that noble cause is. He wouldn't look at the pictures of Casey. He didn't even know Casey's name," she told CNN Sunday. "Every time we tried to talk about Casey and how much we missed him, he would change the subject."

Sheehan said she was so distraught at the time that she failed to ask the questions she now wants answered. "I want him to honor my son by bringing the troops home immediately," Sheehan told reporters Saturday. "I don't want him to use my son's name or my name to justify any more killing."

Approval of Bush's handling of Iraq dipped to 38 percent, its lowest level yet according to an AP-Ipsos. In a Newsweek poll released Sunday, 64 percent of those asked said they do not believe the war in Iraq has made Americans safer.

[8/11/05 UPDATE]

Cindy Sheehan's War protest is drawing some attention. About 50 people have joined her cause, pitching tents of their own and hanging anti-war banners. Trucker Craig Delaney was in Georgia on Monday when he heard numerous radio shows discussing Sheehan, most probably criticizing her because lets face it, the radio is filled with hate-spewing conservatives. He altered his route to California, heading for Texas, and got to Sheehan's site Wednesday morning. "I felt compelled to come and tell her I support her. The way they were bad-mouthing a mother whose son was killed in the war is un-American."

"Cindy Sheehan has become the Rosa Parks of the anti-war movement," said Rev. Lennox Yearwood, leader of the Hip Hop Caucus, an activist group. "She's tired, fed up and she's not going to take it anymore, and so now we stand with her."

Kristinn Taylor, co-leader of D.C.'s Free Republic is saying that her protest is "hurting troop morale." A grieving mother is hurting troop morale?! Are you kidding me? The only thing it will do is remind troops overseas of their own mothers, who are waiting anxiously at home for them to return. What an F*ing surprise that a right winger would take that stance. This woman lost a son in a pointless war. She wants answers and all this cold hearted bitch can say is that Sheehan has "a political agenda that goes way beyond her son's death in combat." No, but your agenda is completely neutral.