Memorial to Troops Killed in Iraq Is Vandalized in Texas

[bigpoppanils]

Memorial to Troops Killed in Iraq Is Vandalized in Texas

By ELISABETH BUMILLER

CRAWFORD, Tex., Aug. 16 - Cindy Sheehan, the mother of a soldier killed in Iraq, who has set up a vigil near President Bush's ranch here, said today that she was "very disturbed" that hundreds of small crosses bearing the names of dead American troops had been knocked down, and that her now 10-day protest was "only the beginning" of national movement to bring all American forces home from the war.

In reaction to the growing anger of many local residents over the crowds and disruptions, Ms. Sheehan's supporters said it was likely that she would move "Camp Casey," her roadside encampment named after her son, to a 300-acre piece of property closer to the president's ranch. Ms. Sheehan's supporters said that the owner of the property was sympathetic to their cause, but his identity could not be confirmed and it was unclear if the deal was complete.

In the meantime, a group of Mr. Bush's neighbors appeared before the McLennan County Commission asking that a no-parking zone near the president's ranch be expanded, which would effectively force Camp Casey to move to the town of Crawford, seven miles away. Neighbors have complained of traffic jams and blocked roads, and some told the commissioners that they worried for the safety of their children as schools reopen. On Sunday, a neighbor fired a shotgun twice in the air on his property. No one was hurt and while the police investigated, no charges were filed.

On Monday night, the police arrested a resident who they said had used a truck to mow down about half the 500 small wooden crosses that were hammered into the roadside dirt. The crosses were put back in place by Ms. Sheehan's supporters this morning as flowers, including crates of long-stemmed red roses, continued to arrive from around the country.

"What happened last night is very disturbing to all of us, and it should be really disturbing to America," Ms. Sheehan said in a news conference at Camp Casey. "Because no matter what you think about the war, we should all honor the sacrifice of the ones who have fallen. And to me it's so ironic that I'm accused of dishonoring my son's memory, by doing what I'm doing, by the other side, and then somebody comes and does this."

Ms. Sheehan, who has vowed not to leave until Mr. Bush meets with her here, said that if local residents wanted her to leave, "they should talk to their neighbor, George Bush, and tell him to talk to us." Mr. Bush did meet with Ms. Sheehan once before, in June 2004 at Fort Lewis, Wash., but she has said that she considered the meeting unsatisfactory and the president disrespectful by his referring to her as "Mom."

Mr. Bush has since said he is sympathetic to Ms. Sheehan, 48, of Vacaville, Ca., whose son, Casey, an Army specialist, was killed at age 24 in the Sadr City section of Baghdad on April 4, 2004. A White House spokeswoman, Dana Perino, reiterated Mr. Bush's words today, and said that while the president disagreed with Ms. Sheehan's views, "he says he respects her right to peacefully protest."

Ms. Sheehan's supporters said they had planned nearly 1,000 anti-war vigils across the country on Wednesday night, which they said were in part sponsored by MoveOn.org Political Action, a prominent anti-Bush group.

from the NY Times

[destruction]

The kind of people who support Bush and the criminal things they do to show their support.

[headpusher]

The kind of people who support Bush and the criminal things they do to show their support.

yea associate all Bush supporters with one jerkoff..

i wonder if you look as stupid as you are

[igloo]

yea associate all Bush supporters with one jerkoff..

i wonder if you look as stupid as you are

He must be one ugly imbecile

[destruction]

yea associate all Bush supporters with one jerkoff..

i wonder if you look as stupid as you are

Not all Bush supporters are like that. Just the hard up ones like you and igloo.

It is clear that the same hardcores who say we dishonor our troops are the same ones who, like that asshole in the pickup truck would go to the extreme of mowing down a memorial commerating and honoring those who have fallen while serving our country like you and igloo.

It's people like him who truely dishonor our fallen soldiers.

Like you and igloo.

He must be one ugly imbecile