A Troop Supporter ??

[slugshooter]

If so, he has a funny way of showing it. At least the protesters are trying to honor the memory of fallen soldiers while the pro-war and Bush crowd are desecrating it.

Crosses vandalized at antiwar mom's Texas camp site

16 Aug 2005 15:49:26 GMT

Source: Reuters

Background CRISIS PROFILE: Afghanistan still the ‘sick man’ of Asia

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CRAWFORD, Texas, Aug 16 (Reuters) - A pickup truck ran over wooden crosses erected at anti-war protester Cindy Sheehan's campsite on Monday night, in the latest sign of tension over the peace vigil outside vacationing President George W. Bush's Texas ranch.

Larry Northern, 46, of nearby Waco, Texas, was arrested and charged with criminal mischief in connection with the incident, Crawford Police Chief Donnie Tidmore said.

Sheehan has pitched a tent on Prairie Chapel Road, which leads to Bush's ranch, and calls her site "Camp Casey," after her 24-year-old son, who was killed in combat in Iraq in April 2004.

The small, white wooden crosses erected at the site are hand-painted with the names of soldiers killed in Iraq.

Sheehan, of Vacaville, California, has demanded a meeting with Bush at which she said she wants to call for the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq.

While Bush has expressed sympathy for Sheehan's grief, the White House has declined a meeting. Sheehan previously met with Bush in 2004 but wants another meeting.

Michelle Mulkey, a spokeswoman for Sheehan, said protesters were still awake on Monday night when a truck dragging a pipe and chains drove over a portion of the area where the crosses were standing.

Sheehan's vigil has attracted anti-war activists from all over the United States -- many of them also relatives of soldiers killed in Iraq -- who arrived to cheer her on and join in rallies.

But not everyone in this farming town of just over 700 people is happy about the presence of Camp Casey and the accompanying media circus. One resident, neighbor Larry Mattlage, fired shots into the air on Sunday from his ranch near Bush's 1,600-acre (648-hectare) property.

Explain to me again how Bush supporters are patriotic.

[TreeStandBowHunter]

Re: A Troop Supporter ??

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Explain to me again how Bush supporters are patriotic.

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Easy tiger...watch how you state that. That's like me saying all dems and Kerry fans are gay and troop bashers...wait...they are

Anyway, I have mixed feelings about this whole ordeal. First of all, the woman needs to get a life. Nobody forced her son to join the military. He did it on his own. Troops die, thousands of other parents are at loss as well, she isin't alone. Do you think her son would want her doing this...I doubt it very much. She is trying to make a statement and that's that. If I was bush, I would ignore her too. He didn't kill her son, war did.

As far as the knucklehead that ran over the crosses, he needs executed on the spot. Regardless of what she is doing and how much I disagree with it, that was wrong for him or anyone to do that. He just as well should take a piss on that kids grave, it would be the same thing. He is no different than that Michael whoever he is that was on that Hannity and Combs show(sp) when he ran over them crosses. That's my opinion of it.

[muggs]

Re: A Troop Supporter ??

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Easy tiger...watch how you state that. That's like me saying all dems and Kerry fans are gay and troop bashers...wait...they are

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LMAO I was going to respond to this, but thought I'd wait to until you did TSBH.

I agree with you, while I feel for the women, but her actions are wrong. Like you said, her son new what he signed up for, and that death was a possibility. But now this women's actions are completely ruining her sons noblility. She needs to stop, and honor her sons memory.

Once again TSBH, well said, for a jarhead that is

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

Re: A Troop Supporter ??

I've been seriously considering making the short drive over there and offering her some counseling. However, I get the feeling that those around her wouldn't let me get a word in edgeways. But if I did go see her, I certainly wouldn't be running over their crosses. That's just plain wrong.

[Strut_Buster]

Re: A Troop Supporter ??

I think this mom needs to think of her son and what he would think of her activities outside his commander in cheif's residence. Part of being in the armed forces is the willingness to go wherever congress or the president says without asking. He did this and made the ultimate sacrifice, but my guess is that he did it no questions asked because it was his duty that he accepted. Our county shall honor him for it.

[TreeStandBowHunter]

Re: A Troop Supporter ??

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. It sure is easy to sit in judgement from your computer chair now isnt it?

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[VermontHunter]

Re: A Troop Supporter ??

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. It sure is easy to sit in judgement from your computer chair now isnt it?

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LOL..atleast I'm not the only one,,,,

[buckee]

Re: A Troop Supporter ??

I think Mike said it pretty good.

[slugshooter]

Re: A Troop Supporter ??

True, he joined the Army on his own, noone forced him, whether or not he agreed with the war hasn't been voiced yet, because not every soldier agrees with the war. Whether or not he would approve of what his mother is doing will never be known.

Bush should have met with her when this whole thing first started because his not meeting with her has allowed this protest to grow larger. Cindy Sheehan herself has said that she doesn't like how the protest has grown into a "media circus."

My whole purpose behind this was in response how everyone on here likes to call me un-american, and anti-military as well as everyone else that doesn't agree with the War in Iraq, when what this guy did is more un-american than anything I have ever said or done as well as those of us against the War in Iraq. Our troops are currently fighting a different enemy in Iraq than what they were originally sent there for, the original enemy turned out to not be much of one in the first place.

[dg]

Re: A Troop Supporter ??

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. It sure is easy to sit in judgement from your computer chair now isnt it?

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LOL..atleast I'm not the only one,,,,

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Maybe what was meant was: "until we experience the loss of a son or daughter, we truely don't know how we'd react"..............JMO That's how I took it.

[VermontHunter]

Re: A Troop Supporter ??

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Bush should have met with her when this whole thing first started because his not meeting with her has allowed this protest to grow larger. Cindy Sheehan herself has said that she doesn't like how the protest has grown into a "media circus."

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Sluggo, my friend he did meet with her once already....what good would a second meeting do anyhow ??? Just what does she think is going to happen with this second meeting with the President ??? It's not like he's going to withdraw every once of troops that are serving just to make her rest easy....

He'd be one busy man if he held meeting every 5 min. for every grieving parent or relative,,,he has a country to run, he's not a counseling service......If you ask me all of these protest that are going on are for one purpose and one purpose only and that's to get attention,,and we aren't talking about the good kind either.....She had her moment with the big man and she should just move on and start the healing process IMO....

One more thing when you join the service you take and oath to defend the United States from Foriegn and DOMESTIC attacks.......This should be done without question,,,,,,so when the commander and chief says your services are needed,,you better be prepared,,,as this young man was and gave the ultimate sacrifice to his country.....so why in heavens sake would you make something bad of this as his mother is doing ???? this to me is just crazy...

[buckee]

Re: A Troop Supporter ??

That's what I was going to say too Luke, but being Canadian, I figured I'd lay low

[muggs]

Re: A Troop Supporter ??

Again, I truly feel for this women, and ALL the other mothers and fathers that have lost their children during this, or any other war.

But, what gives this women the idea that she can meet with the President and question him directly? If he did that, he would be neglecting so many other families who might want the same type of answers, and the same type of personal treatment.

If she disagrees with the war movement, fine. She should have voted for Kerry. If she did vote for Kerry, she lost, and our nation has selected it's leader. That's how our democratic system works, the same system that affords her the right to make this public display, however misguided it might be, that's her right.

But, this women is selfishly undermining her son's sacrifice and the memory of so many other young soliders that have met their fate while serving this great nation.

It's time for her to stop, she's not the only one who has lost someone.

[slugshooter]

Re: A Troop Supporter ??

I'm aware of the fact that Bush met with her and other families last year, and no I don't think he should meet with every family, although it would be nice, but the fact that he didn't meet with her and at least placate her has allowed the protest to grow. Not that it matter anymore now, because the group is even closer, it seems a sympathetic landowner has donated his land less than a mile from Bush's ranch for them to stage the protest, oddly enough it is the cousin of the guy who decided to fire his shotgun in the air.

True, legally, the military must obey the orders of the Commander in Chief, but there is no law saying that those orders cannot be questioned when one wonders why the basis of war was based on false intelligence that even President Bush himself has admitted was flawed. Does one not see the problem behind that? Had it been Bill Clinton, or John Kerry, there would be burning of effigies on the steps of Congress.

This woman has every right to protest as does everyone else who has ever held a protest. It's not misguided if it gets questions answered. The only reason that it is misguided is because she has taken a stance against something that in here is unpopular. I guess as long as the protest is for some conservative value then it is OK. Without protest, without the questioning of our leaders we will become exactly what you guys claim to hate, a communist, socialistic society. You can't take one side of Freedom of Speech, that's already been done, remember, people could speak out in Saddam Husseins Iraq, it just couldn't be against anything he said or did. In the USSR you could speak your mind, as long as you didn't criticize the Kremlin. When America starts dictating what is acceptable speech and what is not, well, then we have just become a country that everyone claims they hate. I may not agree with what anyone on here says, but you have every right to say it, as I have every right to say what I believe without fear of being silenced because it goes against what the "majority" believes.

[wtnhunt]

Re: A Troop Supporter ??

Think the neighbor has every right to be ticked sluggo. The protestors are near his home. Who wants to see or hear the negative attention and have the media right next to their home. The neighbor has rights too.

[LifeNRA]

Re: A Troop Supporter ??

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Explain to me again how Bush supporters are patriotic.

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Easy tiger...watch how you state that. That's like me saying all dems and Kerry fans are gay and troop bashers...wait...they are

Anyway, I have mixed feelings about this whole ordeal. First of all, the woman needs to get a life. Nobody forced her son to join the military. He did it on his own. Troops die, thousands of other parents are at loss as well, she isin't alone. Do you think her son would want her doing this...I doubt it very much. She is trying to make a statement and that's that. If I was bush, I would ignore her too. He didn't kill her son, war did.

As far as the knucklehead that ran over the crosses, he needs executed on the spot. Regardless of what she is doing and how much I disagree with it, that was wrong for him or anyone to do that. He just as well should take a piss on that kids grave, it would be the same thing. He is no different than that Michael whoever he is that was on that Hannity and Combs show(sp) when he ran over them crosses. That's my opinion of it.

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Very well said Mike! I agree with this as well! I also think a second meeting with her will do no good! I feel for her loss, but what she is doing is not helping nobody, her included!

[jdickey]

Re: A Troop Supporter ??

Well Sirs.... being right here in the backyard of all this mess.... it seems the more Ms. Sheehan spouts, the bigger her foot gets! It is simply amazing to see... our fine press/media in action. Every time this women steps out, which is either in the morning or late evening, the valiant press corps is there with their cameras clicking away. This event has been well choregraphed by several ultra-liberal organizations - it has and is not a spontaneous event as the world is being led to believe.

WHY SHOULD THE PRESIDENT HAVE AN AUDIENCE WITH THIS WOMAN? No matter what he would say... she would not be satisified and in typical liberal reaction, would find some other issue to nit-pick. The loss of one's child in combat is not new and her child won't be the last to be killed in a combat. Only because this President had the fortitude to send troops into combat, the media slams his method as being the wrong thing to do. Where was the outcry when the US got it's butt whipped in Somalia? That was OK because Bubba Billy Clinton was otherwise occupied in the White House - or was it when he LIED UNDER OATH!

Today's local paper, the Waco Tribune-Herald, the front page was decorated again by Cindy Sheehan.... buried further back in the story was a picture of Gary Qualls from Temple, Texas, who was at the protest site and gathered up his son's "cross" stating that he did not want his son's name being associated with Ms. Sheehan.

More actions like the one Mr. Qualls has shown, are coming soon!

Ms. Sheehan should pay her taxes, and return to California for her divorce court. Maybe she needs to repeat her little speech she made in San Francisco .... unfortunately, most of it cannot be printed in a family newspaper! Time will unveil Ms. Sheehan!

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

Re: A Troop Supporter ??

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When America starts dictating what is acceptable speech and what is not, well, then we have just become a country that everyone claims they hate. I may not agree with what anyone on here says, but you have every right to say it, as I have every right to say what I believe without fear of being silenced because it goes against what the "majority" believes.

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Well said.

I don't think anyone around here really wants to silence her. We just want her to be seen as what she really is - a political partisan. The media is trying to make her out as some sort of hero or as someone who is typical of the parents of our soldiers. Both images are wrong. I think Mr. Qualls (I used to work with him) is much more representative of the attitudes of the parents of our brave fighting men and women.

[jdickey]

Re: A Troop Supporter ??

Shortly after his son's death, Gary Qualls joined with another group in Bell County, Texas to form a memorial fund in honor of ALL SOLDIERS who have died in combat. This link will take you to that website

QUALLS MEMORIAL FUND

A "support rally" is scheduled for August 27 in Crawford... Gary Qualls will be there... along with 100's of other patriots!

[stevebeilgard]

Re: A Troop Supporter ??

this woman is degrading the life of her son, who volunteered into service, and knew what he was doing. i feel quite confident that if he were able to say something now, it would be to ask his mom to not speak for him, and that she is wrong.

as for a meeting with the president, she was fortunate to have one. as for now, she could attract more flies with a drop of honey than with the gallons of vinegar she is spewing.

[slugshooter]

Re: A Troop Supporter ??

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this woman is degrading the life of her son, who volunteered into service, and knew what he was doing. i feel quite confident that if he were able to say something now, it would be to ask his mom to not speak for him, and that she is wrong.

as for a meeting with the president, she was fortunate to have one. as for now, she could attract more flies with a drop of honey than with the gallons of vinegar she is spewing.

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I can't agree totally with that statement, yes, he volunteered for the Army, but that doesn't mean he agreed with the war. We shouldn't cast speculation about how he felt about the war or what he would say to his mother. Since I live near Fort Bragg the war is prominently in the papers every day, and there are plenty of stories and quotes about soldiers who don't agree with the war, my supervisor is an Army retiree, and she doesn't agree with the war. I read the Paraglide (Bragg paper) every week and there are multiple desertions every week from Bragg. Not everyone in the military believes the War in Iraq is justified.

[jdickey]

Re: A Troop Supporter ??

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this woman is degrading the life of her son, who volunteered into service, and knew what he was doing. i feel quite confident that if he were able to say something now, it would be to ask his mom to not speak for him, and that she is wrong.

as for a meeting with the president, she was fortunate to have one. as for now, she could attract more flies with a drop of honey than with the gallons of vinegar she is spewing.

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I can't agree totally with that statement, yes, he volunteered for the Army, but that doesn't mean he agreed with the war. We shouldn't cast speculation about how he felt about the war or what he would say to his mother. Since I live near Fort Bragg the war is prominently in the papers every day, and there are plenty of stories and quotes about soldiers who don't agree with the war, my supervisor is an Army retiree, and she doesn't agree with the war. I read the Paraglide (Bragg paper) every week and there are multiple desertions every week from Bragg. Not everyone in the military believes the War in Iraq is justified.

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Gee... those "multiple desertions each week"... must be the climate in El Paso. Certainly don't hear of any "multiple desertions" going on at Fort Hood.. only 30 miles down the road from me! What I do hear, is overwhelming base and community support for the President and his leadership and determination. What you don't hear in the media... is the number of people who do not wish the names of their sons or daughters to be USED on the side of the road. Gary Qualls has had to come THREE TIMES to TAKE DOWN HIS SON'S CROSS FROM THE SIDE OF THE ROAD! He has told Ms. Sheehan personally as well as her "assistants" to not USE his son's name. Gary Qualls has returned four other times to take down the crosses of 14 other names on the side of the road. Those people have NO RIGHT TO USE ANY SOLDIERS NAME on that road side other than CASEY SHEEHAN... and his dad does not agree with that use either!

Today... they had Joan Baez at Cindy's Circus... what do you bet... in the near future.. next they will have Hanoi Jane (or as she's been termed now JIHAD JANE)!

There were over 1000 ANTI-Protesters yesterday and today. Next weekend, the City of Crawford will triple in size with ANTI-PROTESTERS!

[womanwhohunts]

Re: A Troop Supporter ??

Some very good points made here about this subject.As a mother of sons I do understand her loss.I do not understand why she would say "America is not worth dying for".I'm not saying I would willing give up my sons but I do beleive our soldiers know what they are fighting for.I do beleive she is dis-honoring her son.As is anyone that supports this protest.I don't have a problem with a protest,we're all entitled to them.But why would anyone send a message to our troops that says give up and come home?Can you imagine how hard it is to actually go one on one with the emeny in this war?I can't.How does it feel as to hear our nations support of our Commander in Chief has declined?We must support our fellow Americas until the end.The outcome of this war depends on it.I couldn't care less who folks voted for,my biggest concern is the morale of our troops.We all need to stand up and praise our greatest defense....our troops....they are counting on us to do so.How could any American do less?I would dare to say anyone who doesn't support our effots are trying to be un-american and we all know where those folks should go.God Bless our soldiers and bring them home safely soon.

[jdickey]

Re: A Troop Supporter ??

Sorry about the Ft. Bragg mixup, late night Senior Moment! Just a few moments earlier, I had been talking to another Patriot Soldier at Ft. Bliss - which is in El Paso! Of course, he was asking about the goings-on in Crawford. He had heard about the BOMB THREAT at a local store, whose owner supports the President!

[slugshooter]

Re: A Troop Supporter ??

I agree with the part of your post jdickey where this Qualls guy has removed his name from the roadside protest. Regardless of how she feels about the war, they should only be putting up names of soldiers whose family wants them there. The first time Mr. Qualls removed the cross should have been the only time. She should have enough respect for the families of the other victims to respect their wishes. I am sure she wouldn't want her sons name on the other side of the line where people are supporting the war and Bush. This whole thing has turned into a media circus, and frankly, I'm tired of hearing about it. Why can't we go back to the real news of which celebrities are hooking up with who?