Guest blogged by David Edwards
Last night, around 10 PM local time, a pick-up truck ran over about 500 crosses at Camp Casey in Crawford, TX. The crosses, provided by Arlington West, each represent a soldier who has died in Iraq. The Associated Press published a preliminary story on the desecration of the memorial crosses early this morning.
Japhet Els and Emily Sharpe of truthout.org reporting from Crawford:
Out of the 800 crosses, 500 were knocked down and 100 are irreperable. However, the driver was arrested by the local authorities. This is a prime example of how the Crawford sheriff’s department has helped to protect us and our freedom of speech over the past week and a half. A big thank you to them!
(..)
Now, more than ever, is the time for us to come together. We need your voice and your help to bring America closer to an ideal that all of us hold in our hearts. Cindy Sheehan is bringing us closer to that ideal and demonstrating its power to change this country.
This morning, NBC’s Today show reported that the driver will be charged later today with criminal mischief. This video from NBC’s Today show provides a drive-by view (Windows Media) that really highlights the destruction of the cross memorials.
Today may prove to be bring even more challenges as a few local residents vow to challenge Camp Casey in the Waco courts.
Bloomberg has the following report:
After nine days of watching as one woman’s protest has grown into a national event, dozens of the farmers and ranchers neighboring Bush’s 1,600-acre Prairie Chapel Ranch plan to petition a county court in nearby Waco tomorrow, according to one, Pete Martinka. They want to prevent anyone from parking or stopping within two miles of the makeshift campsite erected by Cindy Sheehan, a 48-year-old woman from Vacaville, California, whose son, Casey, was killed in the war in Iraq.
“She’s pitching tents on private property,” said Martinka, who lives on the 104-acre Lazy Czech Ranch near the Bush property. Erecting signs prohibiting stopping and parking would halt traffic jams on the narrow country road and would “keep the riff-raff out of our hair.”
This morning in an interview with Air America, Cindy Sheehan said that a sympathetic neighbor, who was appalled by the gun shooting incident, has offered an acre of nearby land. Camp Casey should be soon be moving to a safer location.
Scott Galindez reports for truthout.org:
To find out what you can do to support Cindy and Camp Casey, visit MeetWithCindy.org and consider hosting or attending a prayer vigil this Wednesday night.
You can also donate to the hard-hitting Velvet Revotution ad campaign running in Crawford papers that highlights the hypocrisy of the neo-con “chicken hawks”.
This will only strengthen OUR resolve
Well, I’m going with the ‘the-glass-is-half-full’ view:
1…Some asshole destroys some of the crosses (george & his supporters are SO GOOD at making themselves look bad!)…..
2…Some pig farmers offer Cindy an acre of land that’s CLOSER to george! Let’s hear it for pig farmers!!
What an ass. I’m glad the Crawford Sheriff’s department is doing their job!
And God Bless the pig farmers!
Mixter
Yea Pig Farmers ! Anderson Cooper carried an interview last night and Cindy was amazing.
She corrected a statement attributed to her with such class.
The other side of this was a mother still confused that her son died because of defending 9/11. So many, many still confuse Osama with Saddam, Afganistan with Iran. How can that be?
I have this vision of the driver of the pickup, just before he took off for Camp Casey, saying, "Somebody hold my beer ‘n’ watch this!"
I’m thinking that even the COUNTER-PROTESTORS who stopped to put flowers or flags at the crosses will be pissed about this. And NOTHING happens in a small town without everybody knowing about it. He might ought to be laying low for awhile.
Can you say, redneck idiot? Here’s your sign….
When the pressure is on, the busheviks seem to have a tendency to show who they really are.
Might happen more often if mainstream Dems had any interest in putting the pressure on and keeping it on.
Like in the presidential debates. Kerry had Bush reeling. Then he sortof held Bush up the rest of the way.
Has anyone taken a look at The Iconoclast today..there is a section on all the other countries that are reading what is happening here.
Their Editorial is OUTSTANDING asking all the questions that need answering.
Some good links to The Lone Star Iconoclast
editorial: unanswered questions
news: iconoclast coverage making its way around the world
news: velvet revolution launches ad campaign
the cindy watch main index
today’s coverage
it’s ok that a texan knocked down 500 crosses of which many are from texas gw bush has erected 1800
I think I saw an American flag lying on the ground among all those crosses. Did that pickup driver maliciously run over an American flag??? Shouldn’t he be charged with the recently passed flag descration law? Or is that particular law just on the books to be selectively enforced against the wrong kind of protester?
What a prick. Anyone here that there is going to be a public hearing on the Abu Garib photos and videos, raw story has the headline….developing….
Charlie
http://www.rawstory.com
I am sure this uber patriot will be on Rush and Sean within the week talking about his patriotic duty to desecrate the crosses and American flags that represent dead soldiers. I guess these hypocritical pieces of garbage forgot about how these dead soldiers got to Iraq. If Al Gore sent our troops to Iraq based on LIES they would be just as sympathetic. :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy:
So, when Move America Forward comes this Saturday to Counter Protest Cindy, will they get to use the ditch the locals are so upset about? Just asking. Where are they going to be allowed to set UP. :confused:
while i do not approve of this action, mrs. sheehan has discraced her sons memory. he volunteered for the army. did they lie to him about he would have a gun and may have to use it at sometime. i admire all of our men and women in uniform and am deeply sorry for mrs. sheehan loss but blaming the president is the wrong avenue to take.
Shannon you are so full of shit you aren’t even functional anymore. Go take a look in the mirror and try to figure out how you got to be so delusional.
I look at the video and the only thing I can think of is….
Who are the ones supporting our troops now??? NOT THE NEO CONS!
I don’t have a link for this news, but I just received a note from True MajorityACTION that states a rancher, and veteran, in the vicinity of Camp Casey has offered up his land to Cindy Sheehan! A very touching offer, makes me cry!!
Midnight Raid Demolishes Soldiers’ Memorial At Camp Casey
Stand Up With Cindy Against This Intimidation
Dear Kat,
Last night a pickup truck dragging chains ran over the rows of white crosses on the side of the road next to Cindy Sheehan’s vigil in Crawford, Texas.[1] And you probably already saw the news yesterday about President Bush’s neighbor firing a shotgun into the air trying to scare the mothers of fallen soldiers who have gathered around Cindy.
Cindy and the other moms in Crawford have vowed to stay, and now a neighboring rancher, who is a veteran, has offered them some of his nearby land if they need it. He is standing up. Tomorrow night all of us can do the same, at more than a thousand candelight vigils across the country.
Shannon — Bush led this nation to an invasion and occupation of a sovereign nation for less than honorable reasons!!! He disgraces the White House, the office of the presidency, and the position of commander in chief. He used the war politically to manipulate the 2002 elections and then lied about using war as a last resort!!
There’s no undoing what Bush has done here, but a day of reckoning is in order. Too many innocent people have been harmed as a result of his actions. If he speaks for you, then what do you have to say for yourself?
I stand with Cindy — bring our troops home now so that not one more family has to feel the loss of losing their son or daughter for an invasion and occupation based on Bush lies. Honor our fallen soldiers by holding Bush accountable.
#14 Shannon :
And just what avenue of blame would you take?
9/11 = OSAMA and 15 Saudis
There were NO WMD – IT WAS ALL LIES
Casey with all the others were lied to. So if your leader tells you a lie to get you to kill WHO IS TO BLAME?
Have you even looked or read why Bush & Co went into Iraq ? When anyone makes a mistake it takes
"Cindy and the other moms in Crawford have vowed to stay, and now a neighboring rancher, who is a veteran, has offered them some of his nearby land if they need it."
Helping the little lady along are you, my fine gentlemen? Well stay away from her, or I’ll stuff a mattress with you! And you, I’ll make you into a beehive. Here Scarecrow, want to play ball?
– Barbara Bush
# 14 just to finish – when a leader makes a mistake he must own it and correct it.
Bush’s mistake is underestimating the anger of the American people when they have been lied too.
All his toadies in Congress had better be listening as well in 2006. With Brad’s help we might get a honest election and CLEAN THIS ADMINISTRATION UP.
#14 Shannon your comments just helped me write a check to Brad…. so perhaps your comments did some good.
I feel for Cindy….She lost her son….I really do sympathize with her. I have a nephew over in Iraq as we speak who says he sees so much good in what we are doing there, and he is very proud to be there. And that the people there are so appreciative. We don’t see that part in the Media though.
I know that there are a lot of folks out there who have lost loved ones. My heart goes out to all of you.
I lost a nephew. This past New Year’s Day..He was 19 years old….in this country….and not in the war…he was "caught in the crossfire" of a very bad situation. It was senseless….He died for absolutely no reason. We lose folks everyday for even sillier reasons than the war in Iraq.
I understand that what we are doing now is only a small part of the reason we went over there to begin with.
I just want to know how many Iraqi’s lost loved ones over there under Saddam….to the torture and death chambers, and rape-rooms that existed…. We are finding so many mass graves out in the deserts that are popping up.
Should we just sit here and watch the genocide that occurs throughout the world? Should we just sit by and watch that happen as well to other’s families?
The whole truck thing??? It probably wasn’t the brightest thing for this person to do…I don’t think he wanted to disregard any memorial…I think he wasn’t proud of how it was being used THERE….. Some think that it’s propaganda as well…for how this young lady feels about losing her son. But, I guess everybody has their own way of showing how they feel about this whole situation.
GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES!
Here’s a little video I quickly edited together.
>>>VIDEO
(you may download the file from this site)
Texaslady,
While I agree with most of your comments, I do have some of my own to add.
Pulling troops out of Iraq now will cause only civil war (a la Vietnam 1973-1975). We never should have gone. Indeed, I wrote my Congresswoman and both Senators in 2002 and demanded that they oppose the authorization for war.
Unfortunately, my then-Congresswoman, now retired (Jennifer Dunn) was a neo con Republican who responded only with a disagreement letter. One Senator (Patty Murray) heeded my advice and voted against this unConstitutional war.
Regrettably, my other Senator, Maria Cantwell, a Democrat, voted to authorize it.
Make no mistake Texaslady… this is a Quagmire that is reminiscent of Vietnam. However, we may as well make Iraq the 51st State in the USA… because we broke it and now we gotta buy it.
If Alaska was considered Secretary of State William Seward’s Folly, then Iraq will forever be branded as Bush’s Folly.
And the insurgency will last forever (with a potental 1 BILLION person terrorist army). What a wonderful legacy to leave to the next generation, including my two daughters!
Why we just couldn’t leave well enough alone is beyond my meager powers of comprehension.
But in response to your Comment #21, never EVER "misunderestimate" the power of these Gover-Mafia Neo CONS. If they feel that their power is waning ahead of an election, they will unleash a terrorist attack that will make 9/11 look like child’s play.
GOD HELP US ALL.
GOD HELP US ALL, indeed. Here are some marginally OT links with noplace else to go.
Last-minute Push to Stop the Nukes of August
Firing of general linked to Atlanta terror drill tomorrow. Rumsfeld’s ongoing vendetta against Byrnes.
Winter #8 – Thank you so much for these links — they have brought tears to my eyes — Thank God for everyone at Camp Casey, The Iconoclast, Velvet Revolution, Brad and everyone involved — this is so serious and so important — God Bless You All.
More:
(read top two entries in this blog)
TREASONGATE: Where is The Brad Blog? and The Constitutional Powers of the Federal Grand Jury
Bush – PATHETIC (and reptilian)
Dave Lindorff: DU – The Ticking Nuke in Bush’s War Room
I’m not so sure our troops remain in Iraq to prevent a civil war. I do not believe Bush invaded Iraq for freedom and democracy — he invaded for profit and for oil! That’s why we remain.
Read Antonia Juhasz’s latest!
I’m glad nobody got hurt, and the message being sent is loud and clear. IMHO, it has nothing to do with gravemarkers on the side of the road, but the feelings they evoke. It’s more comfortable to be lied to, lulled, told how to feel, how to think, and never having to admit you were wrong.
How could any loving parent look at those markers and say "It was worth it"
Maybe someone’s conscience is bothering them?
Sober up boys, she’s just getting started!
#25 I couldn’t agree more. Just reading a report from Sy Hersh on josephcannon’s blog…corroborates what you are saying.
How does a Nation divided change a policy that is killing our country ? Strong voices are speaking, Senator Joe Biden is one,
I would stand with Senator McClain, at least he can understand the cost war, he has been there.
The comments on these blogs…give hope that honor and courage is still out there…one lone voice in Crawford, Tx started it.
Amen to that Texaslady #31! Amen to that!!!
I agree too!!
#31 "The comments on these blogs…give hope that honor and courage is still out there…one lone voice in Crawford, Tx started it."
The remarkable Cindy Sheehan.
Beth, I am sorry for your loss.
This is not the case with Cindy, tho. She has to listen to her son’s murderer almost daily (TV, newspapers)grinning, bragging about his brillant strategy
that killed her son. The lies and contradictions about the war should have every true American patriot demanding the truth.
for folks to wish to peacefully communicate with him about his act of agression:
LARRY C. NORTHERN
204 ARROWHEAD PT
WACO, TX 76712-3000
(254) 848-9828
2nd Winter Patriot in #15
#8 WP,
Oh man, I just read the first of your links..’Unanswered Questions’..from the Iconoclast. Yeah, VERY good list of questions & yet unfortunately only a partial list. I’ve read alot of partial lists like that …questions, or crimes, or scandals…however one tries to break down & categorize the neocon antics…
I’d really like to see the complete list: laws broken, rules bent, lies told, promises broken, treaties withdrawn from, people fired, demoted, smeared,…
Who’s got the list? Lemme see it….
#28Peg,
Just read the first of your links, and I guess the gist, for me, is when he writes:
"The IIPA discussion was a calculated ruse designed to distract you from the real controlling law, 18 USC 793 and 794."
This is just a bit beyond my ken. IS that the relevant law? IS the penalty death?
Any lawyers out there?
The Lazy Czech ranch huh? Maybe he needs a phone call from the Serving Czech in Iraq Household!
Nana…..
So does my Brother…..it was the child’s mother!
Thanks for your thoughts….
I’m sure that it was a Christian Patriot who mowed down the crosses and U.S. flags
Phil #6
I am one who believes that Kerry (and Gore) ran honest, excellent campaigns against liars and cheaters. They did not lose the vote. They lost the count.
I salute Cindy Sheehan, a good citizen who I believe will be found to be also a great patriot who has galvanized hearts and minds of all citizens who are disenchanted with the treacherous antics of President Bush. I hope the momentum of Cindy’s supporter’s outrage will continue to build until our weak kneed Congress is forced to demand a Congressional hearing into how we were conned into this disastrous conflict. Let’s rebuild the Camp Casey Memorial and keep up the good fight until our kids are back home and George Bush is gone!
this guy should get a good old tar and feathering, then delivered to his real dads place the bush ranch, ill repeat what ill tell eny one ,the republicans will vote for a dog stool if thats what they run for president , the last 2 elections prove me right !!!!!!
re #38 Nice to hear from you, Tracy… Take good care!
I don’t know if that is the correct contact info….
Northern, Realtors
Larry Northern
303 Crossroads West
Waco, Texas 76712
254-772-8200
254-751-0449 fax
Lnorth8980@aol.com
Beth, you would do a lot better not to have stuck that last paragraph on at the end. You had me interested in what you were saying until you apologized for the terror tactics of the wealthy realtor who drove his truck into a memorial for dead soldiers.
Shame on you and the Republican party.
These baby bully episodes remind me of the kids on the playground who would wreck your stuff. Always flammable. How mature.
Dear Beth,
I am sorry for your loss. It can’t help but continue to haunt you. I’m sure Cindy Sheehan’s loss haunts her as well. I admire Cindy’s effort to transform this loss into something positive for the future, by asking Bush the hard questions, which he has so far failed to answer.
I find it very hard to read about the soldiers killed in Iraq, including those aged 19, 20, 21… I wish it were indeed true that overall, we as a nation are accomplishing something good in Iraq. However, we are not, as many have pointed out, including Coleen Rowley: Get past Bush’s war rhetoric to see what has or has not worked
—-snippet–
State Department figures have apparently shown the number of terrorist incidents soaring: from 2003’s 20-year record of 175 incidents that killed 625 people — to 651 such attacks that killed 1,907 in 2004.
——more at article
For another view, I suggest you check out OpTruth. Operation Truth is America’s first and largest nonprofit, non-partisan advocacy organization for veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars (quoted from their website).
In particular, you should look at A Message to the Crawford Memorial Vandal, written by a soldier, Perry Jefferies, who served in Iraq.
snippet——-
While I was in Iraq, a very good friend of mine, Christopher Cutchall, was killed in an unarmored HMMWV outside of Baghdad. He was a cavalry scout serving with the 3d ID. Once he had declined the award of a medal because Soldiers assigned to him did not receive similar awards that he had recommended. He left two sons and a wonderful wife. On Monday night, August 16, you ran down the memorial cross erected for him by Arlington West.
—-much more at article/ link
Wow … lots of powerful comments here. VG #48 — excellent post and links. Thanks.
Beth,
One day I hope the truth will come out loud and clear over TV and in all the newspapers … on the FRONT page where it should have been as soon as it happened.
That truth is that Bush led us into this war with Iraq under false pretenses. The list of his lies has been published — you can find the documented cases here online. Your nephew and you, believed what the Administration was telling you over the TV and in the papers. The media has helped to cover up the truth. But it does not help the soldiers who are still in Iraq fighting this illegal, illegitimate, immoral war for the purpose of lining the pockets of the Robber Barons.
It shouldn’t be embarrassing to admit a mistake was made … but not doing something about it now, is criminal.
Please reflect on these words … pray over them … do some research (using real documents, not websites that repeat the same propaganda as the White House) … and then tell others. If you don’t think things are going to get much, much worse … you aren’t thinking.
Beth, I meant to express my heartfelt sympathy for your loss. I’ve experienced the tragic deaths of many of my good friends and also of my only brother – not in Iraq – but tragic and sudden. I understand the gut-wrenching trauma that goes hand-in-hand with this kind of loss.
I also want to clarify that I understand why people think this war is a just cause. It’s because of the lack of truth in reporting. But now we are gathering evidence that proves we’ve been lied to. We must stop this war before another one of our beautiful young soldiers dies.
Please join us in the fight to end this war and expose the criminals who sold it to the American People via lies.
Thanks,
Kira
I misread Beth’s initial comment where she says her nephew didn’t die in Iraq.
Just wanted to clarify.
Lot’s of Bush supporters are so critical of Cindy’s right to ask for a meeting with GW. So what if Cindy camped outside Bush’s ranch? Lot’s of unconditional Bush supporters are gloating over the fact that she has left because her mother is ill. She deserves the right to be heard and we ALL should listen to both sides of the argument. The tradgedy and sacrifice this poor woman has endured has at least earned her that right. There’s lots of good American people out there, and some serving in our armed forces, that believe we have no business being in Iraq in the first place. As a 22 veteran myself, I say why? Why have nearly 2,000 people been sacrificed? I would rather have Saddam back in power and have the lives of our 2,000 service people back! Of course if you have interest in the lives of those 2,000, you probably think it’s well worth our efforts. BRAC is suppose to save 50B over 20 years, but guess what? We’ve already sent over 200B down the toilet on this misadventure. Sure who cares, unless your husband or wife works on one of those bases being closed.
Thanks for your insight and powerful words, Nick!
Sorry I have to ask — what does BRAC stand for?
Hello Kira, BRAC is Base Realignment and Closure, a list of proposed military bases/sites to be shuttered to save the govt money. The list has been complied after an extensive study and will be presented to congress for approval/rejection in the next few weeks or so. It’s a big deal and many communities will dry up and blow away if the military base that drives that local economy goes away. While it’s not smart to have military installations you don’t need, to shutter these bases in the name of "money saving"and then throw well over 200B (and counting) towards a war started over faulty intelligence, is not very smart either. Another gripe I have is over how the President has linked the war in Iraq with terrorism. Heck, 99.9% of the insurgents probably wouldn’t be fighting us if we weren’t over there occuping their land. For the record, it has been announced by the 9/11 commission that there is NO evidence linking Iraq or Saddam in any way to the attacks of Sept 11th. But the President insists on calling the war with Iraq a "war on terror!" It just makes me sick that so many of the American people remaine so uninformed, when the truth is in the news everyday. Take care, Nick
I agree 100% with you, Nick. The money put into the Defense Dept. is way out of line with what is really needed (plus it doesn’t go to pay for necessities for our troops, such as body armor, etc.) No — it goes into Dick Cheney’s pocket via Halliburton and into bu$h’s pockets via Carlisle Co., and into the pockets of GE’s CEOs, on & on.
When things don’t make sense or add up correctly, we know there’s a hidden agenda and a cooked book. It’s all working to enrich the obscenely rich war profiteers & robber barons.
Thanks for telling me what BRAC stands for!
Keep posting!
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