[Mb-civic] A Message From Cindy Sheehan, Crawford, TX

[Jef Bek]

"Security Threat"
Tuesday, August 9th, 2005

A Message From Cindy Sheehan, Crawford, TX

Where do I begin? 

Today was a highly eventful day. This entry won¹t be artful, but
utilitarian. 

I conservatively got 3 to 5 phone calls a minute. I did about 25 phone
interviews and several TV interviews. I did several right-wing radio
interviews. I was supposed to do: The Today Show, MSNBC live interview,
Connected Coast to Coast (MSNBC) and Hardball (MSNBC). The Today Show just
never showed up and the other 3 MSNBC shows cancelled for no reason.

Another big story that was going on today was about my first meeting with
Bush in June of 2004. For you all I would like to clarify a few things.
First of all, I did meet with George, and that is not a secret. I have
written about it and been interviewed about it. I will stand by my
recounting of the meeting. His behavior was rude and inappropriate. My
behavior in June of 2004 is irrelevant to what is going on in 2005. I was in
deep shock and deep grief. The grief is still there, but the shock has worn
off and the deep anger has set in. And to remind everybody, a few things
have happened since June of 2004: The 9/11 commission report; the Senate
Intelligence report; the Duelfer WMD report; and most damaging and criminal:
the Downing Street Memos. The VERY LAST THING I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS IS:
Why do the right wing media so assiduously scrutinize the words of a grief
filled mother and ignore the words of a lying president?

In the early afternoon, we got word that if we were still there by Thursday,
we were going to be deemed a "security threat" to the president. Condi and
Rummy are coming in on Thursday for a "policy" meeting. I just don¹t
understand why we will be a security threat on Thursday when we aren¹t now?
If we don¹t leave on Thursday, we could be arrested. Well, I am not leaving.
There are only three things that would make me leave: if George comes out
and talks to me; if August comes to an end, or if I am arrested.

People are heading here from all over the country. I have some more Gold
Star Families for Peace members coming tomorrow. We are amazed by the
outpouring of love and support we are getting. 62% of the American public
are against this war and want our troops home. We need to show the media
that we are in the majority. We need to show George Bush and his cabal of
neo-cons that when we say "bring the troops home, now" we mean "bring the
troops home, now!!!"

In the late afternoon, many of us left to go back to the peace house in
Crawford because there was going to be a major lightning storm. While most
of us were gone, the Sheriff came and told us that what we were told was
county property really was private property and we would have to remove our
stuff to a tiny place, or get it confiscated. I find it interesting that the
county sheriff did not know that roads in his county that lead up to the
presidential vacation home are private roads. I find it very hard to
believe. They think that they are pushing us off, but we will not leave
there voluntarily or without handcuffs on. My only hope is, there will be
tons of media there when they carry me to the squad car.

Today was so bizarre for me. I got phone calls from famous people pledging
their support, and phone calls from mothers with sons in Iraq who are
overcome with emotion when they talk to me. And it is so brave for them to
call me, because I am their worst fear. We had a young man who is in the US
Army at Ft. Hood come this morning and spend hours with us. He has been
there [Iraq] and his unit is scheduled to go back in October. How much
courage did that take for him to come within earshot of his commander in
chief¹s home and spend time with some old hippy protestors???

We have a lawyer working on getting us closer to the ranch and working on
magically turning the private property back into county property again. I
have some awesome young ladies from CodePink answering my phone and taking
phone calls. We have Veterans for Peace out there putting up banners (our
tiny campsite looks real nice). We have concerned citizens from all over
America starting to come in. IT IS FREAKIN AMAZING, FOLKS!!!

Come and join us and let your voices be joined with ours.

AMEN!!!