Crawford, Tex. — When Douglas County, Kan., residents Lauren Sullivan and Rex Powell drove here Aug. 20 to show support for Cindy Sheehan and other mothers whose sons and daughters were killed in Iraq, they expected to stay only a couple of days.
Sullivan is still in Crawford, while Powell was on his way home to Lone Star on Monday.
"We knew when we came down that Cindy, herself, wouldn't be here, but this protest clearly had become about much more than one family's tragedy," Sullivan said in an e-mail to the Journal-World Monday.
Sullivan, of Lawrence, responded to questions sent to her by e-mail because cell phone reception was poor and because she had nearly lost her voice from talking to so many people either by phone or as a volunteer coordinator at Camp Casey II, where she and Powell, of rural Douglas County, have been staying. Powell has been driving a shuttle bus there.
Sheehan first arrived by herself in Crawford on Aug. 6, requesting an audience and explanation from President Bush about why her son, Casey Sheehan, had to die in Iraq. Army Spc. Casey Sheehan was killed in 2004.
Her one-woman war protest has since grown to include thousands of people who are staying or visiting at Camp Casey I and II near Bush's ranch.
"Most people are drawn here for the same reasons Rex and I were," said Sullivan, who recruits volunteers to handle traffic, security, cooking and trash removal at Casey II in addition to manning a media and visitor orientation tent. "This wasn't planned. This all started because Cindy came to Crawford and sat down in a ditch. And whatever we've all done to organize the camp to accommodate the people who want to support her has been totally in response to what she did."
- Bush says Iraqis have made major step toward democracy (08-29-05)
- Thousands arrive in Texas for dueling rallies (08-28-05)
- Cindy Sheehan returns to Texas war protest, will extend it to D.C. (08-26-05)
- Bush passes protesters' camp without stopping (08-13-05)
- Mother's protest gaining attention (08-11-05)
- Mother of slain soldier camps outside Bush's Crawford ranch (08-07-05)
Among those visitors to the protest site have been actor Martin Sheen and civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton, both of whom stayed briefly over the weekend. Singer Joan Baez stayed about a week. There have been rumors recently that Oprah Winfrey might arrive, Sullivan said.
"Whenever the rumor goes around that someone famous might show up, people are excited, sure, and probably some people drive out here just to catch a glimpse," Sullivan said. "But those of us who live here are too busy to think about it other than the parking challenges we need to address before they get here."
Sullivan said she met Sheehan briefly when Sheehan returned last week from California after taking care of some personal business for a few days. Sheehan approached Sullivan at the orientation tent.
"She said, 'Hi, I'm Cindy. I need to get oriented,'" Sullivan recalled. "I introduced myself and said, 'Welcome back.' Honestly, that's been the extent of my conversation with Cindy. I'm too busy."
In response to the Sheehan camps, Bush supporters also set up their own camp near the ranch. Problems between the two groups have been minimal, Sullivan said. She also said relations with Crawford residents and local law enforcement have been good.
The Casey Camps will begin breaking up this week after the antiwar bus tour "Bring Them Home Now" starts Wednesday. Buses will take different routes while making their way to Washington, D.C., where protesters plan to converge on Sept. 21.
Sullivan said she would return to Lawrence later this week but plans to be in Washington in late September.
"I'll be involved in the bus tour, but still working out exactly how," she said.
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lunacydetector (anonymous) says…
ummm......cindy sheehan already met with bush months ago.
'she's 'not going to let anyone exploit and call him a hero because he was a war victim.'
no one that is except herself. she's not denigrating her son's memory by using him and allowing herself to be used by forces that hated what her son stood for? he joined the military out of integrity. he re-enlisted out of integrity, and volunteered for a rescue mission out of integrity, yet she wants to play him as a victim?
she 'would never have allowed a military funeral. I wouldn't have buried him in his uniform.'
there is no other greater honor than to be buried in uniform, with a military ceremony. a noble gesture that the "anti-war" zealots loathe, they detest the idea that someone could love their nation so much that they would volunteer and sometimes die in service to it. they hate that someone who has made such a sacrifice would choose to have their final resting place desecrated by the very 'troops they claim to support'.
i thought sheehan's 15 minutes would have been up already, but it's clearly obvious, the so-called 'mainstream' media want the story to play for as long as possible. while the head of CNN has a fit over Fox's retarded coverage of natalee holloway, they don't dare turn that critical eye at themselves for their 24/7 sheeha-o-rama.
...and as for sheehan's husband, he obviously must see some screws have come loose. that his wife is using the death of their son for potential future ill gotten gain -hollywood celebrities (white trash done good) are crawling out from under their rocks and making appearances. why else would he divorce his wife (his high school sweetheart, incidentally) after 28 years of marriage, coinciding with her campout? could it be she prefers desecrating their son's grave, and he had enough?
Walking_Dude (anonymous) says…
Did you really type all that with one hand? I ask because its really obvious what you're doing with the other one, being as you are such a big fan of Karl "Turd Blossom" Rove.
Go to sleep, Kevin.
merrill (anonymous) says…
LD: Would you please provide a link to that story?
lunacydetector (anonymous) says…
here's a link about who is financing sheehan's publicity stunt. i'll title it "The Financing Of 'Camp Casey'"
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?sect...
george soros is involved - who'd a thunk it?
merrill (anonymous) says…
This Bush war has been great for the war profiteers but not for american diplomacy, our foreign policy or lack thereof so it's time to move out and cut our losses. It won't be a picnic and we'll be leaving WMD's and other weapons behind. Going in was the picnic part.
It really doesn't matter who us funding the Casey Camp unless you also provide who is funding the other Johnny come lately Bush camp. Whether Bush likes it or not Cindy Sheehan is having an impact which is kinda cool. Had he met with her again it is likely none of us here would ever had heard of Cindy
Sheehan. Thank you President Bush we love you for allowing us another opportunity to make one more case of why we should not have bothered the Iraq people.
Meanwhile the "terrorists" that we were supposedly tracking are planning another attack somewhere. Bringing in bin Laden will have little to no effect at this moment in time. The organization probaly has planned accordingly.
LD why you dont provide a link to your first story is still a mystery.
Pat Buchanan is suggesting President Bush be impeached for failing to close america's southern borders as many unknowns are crossing daily...so much for Homeland Security and the corporate welfare that accompanied the project.
Some interesting perceptions:
The Bush War is Not Standing On It's Own Two Feet
http://www.fff.org/comment/com0508q.asp
War Profiteers Meet Their Match
http://www.antiwar.com/orig/jfrank.ph...
http://www.antiwar.com/eland/?article... Ten Reasons to get out:
So What's Next?
from Larry C. Johnson former CIA analyst/state dept. staff
Staying the course and enduring further casualties while the insurgency grows stronger is an insane policy. If we persist on that front we will end up strengthening the hand of Islamic extremists and their role within the Iraqi insurgency.
Our choice is simple--either we invest in the military resources and personnel required to defeat the Sunni insurgents and allow the Shia and Kurds to consolidate power or we withdraw and let the Shia, Sunni, and Kurds find their own solution. We cannot ask our soldiers and Marines to give their lives and sacrifice their bodies for a new Islamic state. It is true that our withdrawal will create a major vacuum and damage our prestige. But the alternative, i.e., that we stay and try to train up sufficient Iraqi forces and help the fledgling Islamic Government get on its feet, will leave us the favorite target of insurgents and terrorists. And after we have shed the blood of our sons and daughters in trying to create a new government that will be controlled by Islamists, those Islamists will ultimately insist that we leave Iraq and no longer meddle in their affairs.
Rosy scenario does not live in Iraq. Until we come to grips with this truth American soldiers will continue to be killed and maimed for no good reason.
lunacydetector (anonymous) says…
merrill, here's a bio regarding casey sheehan
http://www.blackfive.net/main/2005/08...
merrill (anonymous) says…
By Larry C. Johnson
The clueless right wing is up in arms over the momentum of the Cindy Sheehan anti-war movement. There appears no depth they will not plumb, nor mudpit they will not enter in their effort to smear a mother who gave her son in service to our country.
topflight (anonymous) says…
Her son signed up on his own. Served the USA on his own. She did not make any decisions for him. I really doubt that Casey would want his unamerican mom to remember him like this. Thank GOD (yes i said GOD, sue me) that his father has some smarts.
rtwngr (anonymous) says…
Sheehan, Sullivan, and the rest can stay in Texas as far as I am concerned. You can join them Merrill. I hope you all get snake bit.
Smarmy_Schoolmarm (anonymous) says…
Casey's mom is doing a very American thing. She's speaking her mind, stating her case.
She has the right (just as you and I do) to protest anything she deems fit, including the senseless loss of her son's life.
Some may not agree that it is senseless, but that doesn't matter. She does. It was her child.
Jean1183 (anonymous) says…
"Thank you President Bush we love you for allowing us another opportunity to make one more case of why we should not have bothered the Iraq people."
Merrill, did you even read the story yesterday about the Iraqi Fullbright scholar???
hammysammy (anonymous) says…
Cindy Sheehan did meet with Bush, but since then, a lot of revelations had been made in the press about the war, and the reasons for going, or lack thereof. This was stated in http://www.time.com/time/archive/prev... the Time magazine article. People can change their minds and opinions.
lunacydetector (anonymous) says…
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2005/aug...
the above link is a story about an iraqi citizen who is grateful the united states invaded.....
.....and i won't even go into what cindy sheehan said about the terrorists/suicide bombers in iraq - calling them 'freedom fighters.' the article speaks for itself. http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?a...
Dani (anonymous) says…
We have one documented story of an Iraqi that benefitted from our invasion. We also know that some 26,000 Iraqis and 1,800 Americans are dead because of our invasion. At this rate, this war is going to cost us more lives than the terrorist attack that supposedly started this war.
That aside, I think Cindy Sheehan is fantastic. Like the war or not, it takes nerve to do what she's doing, especially in the face of losing her son, her husband divorcing her, and her mother having a stroke. If I were here I'd be curled up in a corner somewhere bawling. Instead she's out looking for answers and trying to hold our President accountable. Yes Casey signed up on his own, but do you really think he knew he'd be going to Iraq when he signed up? I don't think so.
Jamesaust (anonymous) says…
Anyone hear NPR's interview with the "peace mom" yesterday? http://www.npr.org/templates/story/st...
The 30 minute interview / call-in got chopped to all of 8 minutes after Mom turned testy with the first question. When you can't even get National Pravda Radio to fall in with the party line, you know you have a problem with your "movement." (Or perhaps its just the lack of any useful comment about anything.)
The last thing Sheehan needs are the bunch of Succubi profiled in this article.
Jean1183 (anonymous) says…
"We have ~ONE~ documented story of an Iraqi that benefitted from our invasion."
Dani....my son was there. He was on a QRF team like Casey Sheehan. His team leader received the Bronze Star (like Casey) and my son and the other Specialist on their team received Army Commendation Medals. They all 3 talk of the Iraqi people that they came in contact with who are grateful for our soldiers being there.
If the above mentioned JW story is the only positive news you have heard about Iraq, then your information is very limited.
Densmore (anonymous) says…
Geez, what an incredible waste of time, arguing about Cindy Sheehan. I support any grieving mother's right to say anything she wants to say. But quite frankly, I couldn't care less what she has to say. The issue is not Cindy Sheehan.
The question before the American people is as follows: "Now that we are in this miserable situation, what do we do?" I direct you to merrill's excellent post of 5:05 am, where he quotes Larry C. Johnson, former CIA analyst. I will repeat it here so that ya'll don't have to spend time going back to find it and can instead spend your time writing a furious response:
"Staying the course and enduring further casualties while the insurgency grows stronger is an insane policy. If we persist on that front we will end up strengthening the hand of Islamic extremists and their role within the Iraqi insurgency."
He goes on....
"Our choice is simple--either we invest in the military resources and personnel required to defeat the Sunni insurgents and allow the Shia and Kurds to consolidate power or we withdraw and let the Shia, Sunni, and Kurds find their own solution. We cannot ask our soldiers and Marines to give their lives and sacrifice their bodies for a new Islamic state. It is true that our withdrawal will create a major vacuum and damage our prestige. But the alternative, i.e., that we stay and try to train up sufficient Iraqi forces and help the fledgling Islamic Government get on its feet, will leave us the favorite target of insurgents and terrorists. And after we have shed the blood of our sons and daughters in trying to create a new government that will be controlled by Islamists, those Islamists will ultimately insist that we leave Iraq and no longer meddle in their affairs."
Right freaking on!
Folks, we either occupy Iraq with a force many times larger than what we have now, colonize the place (not advised), build a wall around it and prepare for an extended siege, or we should get the devil out of that God-forsaken hole. Otherwise, we will watch our fine and honorable young service men and women continue to die in what might have been a noble cause (note: I said "might") but is certainly a futile endeavor.
onehotmomma (anonymous) says…
It is unfortunate that Cindy Sheehan has chosen this path to greive for her son. She is expecting answers to questions that are impossible for anyone to answer, she wants to blame someone for her son's death. She wants to know why HER son had to die. Her actually knowing the answers to these questions won't give her any peace, they will just make her question more.
People feel they need to know why, we also want to blame others. Yes, public opion on the war in Iraq is dropping, but the only person responsible for Casey's death is the person who killed him. Not president Bush.
Densmore (anonymous) says…
Arminius:
"Probably like a good idea to quote Larry C. Johnson. He has been thoroughly discredited." I think not. We can already see the wisdom in his remarks. Look at the facts. Do you honestly see a peaceful and democratic Iraq at the end of our current course?
Densmore (anonymous) says…
For the purposes of this discussion, I'll assume that Johnson is a no-good yellow-bellied liar. Probably cheats at cards too. However, liar or not, the question remains: "Now that we are in this miserable situation, what do we do?" Here are three options:
1. Commit additional forces and defeat the enemy. Kill them all and let God decide who is right and who is wrong. This would likely require a force the size of that deployed during Desert Storm.
2. Stay the current course, watch our young service people getting picked off on a daily basis, and make no lasting change.
3. Get out.
Option 2 is unfair to our military personnel, not to mention deadly, and a serious misuse of our military resources.
Dani (anonymous) says…
Jean1183 - I should clarify, we have one story here that everyone is referring to. I've heard the stories and seen the documentaries about soldiers meeting the grateful. I've also heard stories of them meeting the more angry. My stepbrother was in both Afghanistan and Iraq. I completely support our troops and fully respect the bravery that kids like your son are showing. However, I also respect people like Cindy Sheehan for making their grievances heard. Polls indicate that she's a part of the majority (latest poll I saw said 60-some% of Americans disagreed with the war) and I admire her for standing up for her opinion.
Jean1183 (anonymous) says…
Another person's perspective:
Curtis Loftis decided to check out the digs at Camp Casey firsthand, trekking to Crawford for a couple of days to see how the anti-war demonstrations have been staged for himself.
Two Days In Camp Casey:
I arrived at the original Camp Casey at 2:30 in the afternoon. It was hot and dry and the assembled demonstrators were in a melancholy state. I quickly made friends, stressing "cocktail" conversation, not political discussion. My goal was not confrontation, but a desire to understand what was actually happening here in Crawford:and being incognito was the only way this would happen.
After bonding with several nice ladies from the central coast of California, I drove with these new buddies to the larger, tented camp where Ms. Sheehan and Company was to be found. There I found a well funded, well orchestrated public relations campaign, run by media professionals complete with the highest quality electronic equipment available. From Satellite trucks and cell phoe to wireless computer access, every modern convenience to enhance the "message" was there:and being used by left wing, socialist and Marxist (self-described) media representatives and Bloggers.
The environment was collegial, and everyone had a purpose. There were rules such as no drinking, no bad behavior and the like that were ruthlessly enforced. Everyone had to be on message, and the message was the point of everything:stray from the message and you are out. Even the protesters' signs were monitored less they distract from the message.
Jean1183 (anonymous) says…
continued:
Most of the Sheehan protesters were either professional (paid staff of Fenton Communications or the radical organization Code Pink or the like), or were long time protesters, some admitting to beginning vigils against the government as early as 1965. I had conversations with approximately 50 of these people over 48 hours, and all seemed like interesting and engaging people. We talked sports, and cars and how wonderful California is, and just about everything that could be discussed without my divulging that I am a conservative. But when "scratched" just a little with some mild political talk, they all responded the same way:"it is Americas fault". No matter what the issue, each and every one of them had the same default:"bad things are America's fault".
Toward the end of my time there, I decided to innocently toss into the conversation different issues just to elicit a response. One issue I politely deposited into our talks was of the peasant unrest in rural China, and the brutality shown to the peasants by the government and their hired thugs. There response to this problem was:"well, look how we treated the blacks in America", or, "gays are being beaten everyday in America".
So the cliche of the "hate America" crowd is indeed true. It is as if the protesters were intellectually bulimic, and having ingested all of the hate America bile, they looked forward to regurgitating it as a show of their steadfastness to their cause of peace and love.
Cindy Sheehan spent most of her time huddled with VIPS in an air-conditioned trailer. When she ventured out it was for a scripted and often televised moment. She was always trailed by her media people, and they were quick to keep her on point. During one conversation I had with her I tried to ask her a pointed question about how much time she would actually be on the bus tour to Washington. (I had discovered she would only be on the tour for two days, and would be away giving speeches during the rest of the trip:and I wondered if she were being paid for these speeches.) Her media person grabbed her arm and led her back to the trailer, and away from me. The message was protected. I was left standing there:alone, and feeling a little less secure about my status at Camp Casey.
But just a few minutes later, she emerged from the trailer, smiling, and performing for the cameras. Like the chicken at the local carnival that plays tic tac toe, she eagerly performs for any microphone. She is relentless, and professional, well financed and on message.
And the message is "All things bad are America's fault".
Dani (anonymous) says…
Arminius - I hadn't heard any of that. What is your source?
shortstack (anonymous) says…
Um, I wonder when it is going to hit everyone, that whatever solutions you think up, what you think should be done about the war, what your opinions are about the war, are not going to make any bit of difference. Does anyone see that we don't matter? Things are going to go on like they have been. People are going to be pissed off about things that are out of their control. There is nothing the American public can do about the war. You can bitch and moan and offer your thoughts and suggestions as long as it goes on. It makes no difference. We are going to be there for the duration, our men and women are going to die for whatever their reasoning is. For the handful of people that did not vote Bush into office I offer a congratulations, but guess what, we still live in a red state. Cindy Sheehan is pissed and sad. I grew up in a military family, my boyfriend is in Iraq now, my sister's boyfriend is in Iraq, a lot of my friends have since come and gone. I'm sad and pissed that they have to be over there. My opinion of the war is of no consequence to anyone. I'm living it, and what I feel makes no difference. It's unfair and I hope for the best everyday for everyone to come home safely. Is it a reality? No. Cindy Sheehan has her right to say/do/hang out/receive money/give speeches for as long as she wants or until the public gets tired of her, thats the American way. Is it going to make any difference in the long run? Nope. Her son is still dead, people are dying every day over there. Maybe you should save all the long winded tirades explaining your interpretation of "up to the minute reports" and thank your lucky stars you don't have to go over there.
Walking_Dude (anonymous) says…
The Bush people hate our freedom. The Bush people did 911.
Let's nuke 'em!
merrill (anonymous) says…
The cost of the Iraq war in terms of dollars and cents:
http://www.venusproject.com/ecs/Cost_...
Walking_Dude (anonymous) says…
Let's bulldoze their houses and steal their cars! We can wreck 'em out near the DMV office, set 'em on fire like as if we were Dominicans.
celebrate diversity! take a nazi to dinner!
majic12 (anonymous) says…
The cost of the Iraq war includes New Orleans. It wasn't the hurricane that destroyed it, it was the failure of the levees. And THAT is Bush's doing.
destroy halliburton now
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
Still swimming in the river in Egypt. You "miss" anything that doesn't fit with your myth(s) about all things Bush. But just so you don't get completely away with your latest BS, the blame lies with Bush precisely because the only thing he's good at is being "on vacation." And in running the country into the ground to finance his war(s) and tax cuts for his buddies, his administration withdrew hundreds of millions in funds that would have repaired the levees that collapsed and caused the flooding that is now consuming all news coverage.
OK, Kevin, pretend that none of that happened and resume kissing Bush's a##.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
You complain about Clinton not doing enough about flood control in NO, and what does Bush do about? Even less!!
You get more pathetic with each post, Kevin.