The Yellow Badge of Cowardice: Cindy Sheehan

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The Yellow Badge of Cowardice
Cindy Sheehan

There was an unbelievable story in The Cove Herald last week that comes from near where George Bush and I own property: Copperas Cove, Texas. Apparently two residents: Bill and Georgia Thomas decided that the Resident in Chief deserved one of the three Purple Hearts that Bill earned in Vietnam for: “emotional wounds and scars” because people all over the world talk so badly about poor George.

This story stunned me on a day when nine US soldiers and 20 were wounded in a car bomb attack in the Iraqi province of Diyala. Over 500 Iraqis were killed or found decomposing in Baghdad last week and April ’07 is shaping up to be one of the deadliest months for US troop fatalities. This is also a day when there is a hearing into the Army’s exploitation of Pat Tillman’s death to use him as a poster boy for patriotic fervor and unfounded hero worship. Why can’t we talk about our soldier’s heroic lives and not their tragic deaths as victims of the military industrial complex.

At the funeral of my son, Casey, a one-star General presented me with a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for bravery awarded to Casey posthumously. The Thomas’ can do whatever they want with Bill’s medals, but I believe giving one to George Bush demeans Casey’s brave and honorable sacrifice. Little Georgie used his Daddy (the Congressman’s) connections to avoid serving in Vietnam and George even went so far as to go AWOL from the Alabama Air National Guard.

Casey didn’t want to go and kill people and die in his commander in chief’s war of aggression. Like the vice-commander in chief, Doomsday Dick, he had “other priorities” besides dying. Casey’s Man-Scout Badges are sitting in my grandmother’s cedar chest right next to his baby book and hand-print from pre-school.

For George, the Vietnam War Resister cum Iraqi occupation War Criminal, to say that he didn’t “deserve” the medal is an under-statement. Bush doesn’t feel emotional scars or pain, he deals them. There are many soldiers who are missing arms, legs, eyes, and souls who actually had to earn their medals under a corrupt regime that used their honor and bravery to pump up the bottom line of such companies as Doomsday Dick’s Halliburton. There are mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, grandmas and grandpas, sons and daughters who are emotionally scarred because their loved one won’t be coming home alive from a war that never had to happen. Our arms will be aching forever because we can’t hug our loved ones. Our hearts are scarred with the pain of burying someone too early and our lives are empty with the longing to see our dear one just one more time.

The Thomas’ belong to the Fox News generation that still condones and supports a murderous regime. Mr. Thomas belongs to a generation that was scarred, maimed and killed with a genocidal fever by its corrupt regimes and he still thinks that George deserves a medal for his incompetence and callousness?

What do we do in a world where black is white? War is peace” Two and two equals five and cowardice is bravery?

We rise up and become more powerful than the special interests which use both parties to keep this nation on a constant war footing. We use our voices to be mouthpieces for peace and accountability. We march on the Capitol on May 14th to demand that there is no more business as usual and that Congress realizes that every single one of them (Democrat or Republican) who voted to fund George’s war are complicit in the bottomless pain that accompanies each death, dismemberment, or disability; without sharing in one iota of the same pain.

If George likes to receive medals that he didn’t earn, Gold Star Families for Peace is going to present him with one on April 25th, (or try to) that he does deserve and has earned abundantly: the Yellow Badge of Cowardice. It doesn’t take any courage to march other people’s children off to war. George didn’t exhibit any courage when he was put to the top of the Texas Air National Guard line by his family’s friends. George puts on his smiley photo-op face to take something from a good-hearted, yet deluded couple, that he stridently avoided earning. It doesn’t take any courage to meet with a bereaved mother, but he also refuses to do that. He travels in America with more armor and fire power than a banana republic dictator, and if he is not stopped by impeachment or other peaceful means, then we will descend into that tyranny of empire…if we aren’t already there.

Please join Cindy, The Camp Casey Peace Institute, Gold Star Families for Peace, CODEPINK , Congress Reps John Conyers (D-Mi) and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), and others, as we march on the Nation’s Capital on May 14th demanding an end to the violence in the Middle East and for the impeachment of the Bush Regime.

Betrayed!

March 24, 2007

By Cindy Sheehan

THE DEMOCRATS ARE FUNDING IRAQ ESCALATION: The Democratic leadership has proposed $100 billion of supplemental funding for an increased troop presence in Iraq. The leadership opted for the "slow bleed" policy over a month ago. This extends the occupation for at least another 18 months, and allows permanent placement of troops thereafter for “training” or “combating terrorism”. It also will permit the Bush Administration to initiate a war with Iran without Congressional oversight. The surge of 20,000 troops recently increased to 30,000 and will likely increase to 100,000 by year-end. Will the hapless Democrats then claim, “If only I knew then what I know now” as they have for the past year?

The “slow bleed” policy has some toothless requirements for presidential assertions of progress like those we’ve heard for the past four years from the Administration; these reporting requirements allow “slow bleed” proponents to make the preposterous claim they are “ending the war” by funding it. Amendments that would require withdrawal of US forces this year, the policy overwhelming favored by Americans, and the troops themselves, are not even being allowed for a vote by the leadership! The shameless short-term purpose of the Democratic policy is to embarrass Republicans with a Senate filibuster of the supplemental, or a presidential veto, and the longer-term aim is to help Democrats in the 2008 election by saddling the Republicans with intervention in an untenable civil war.

In 2002 the Democrats authorized Bush to invade Iraq (or any other country he deemed to support terrorism, for example Iran) in hope he would become involved in an unpopular war which would produce a Democratic White House. The Democrats 2007 policy is equally political, and may have the paradoxical effect of producing Republican victories in 2008. The prolongation of the occupation is now opposed by two-thirds of all Americans; we want our troops safely home by this Christmas, not political chicanery. As a consequence Americans now think even more poorly of Congress than ever; the failure to withdraw from Iraq dropped Democratic support of Congress from 44% to 33% according to the latest Gallup poll. The Democrats failure to stem what has become a Democrats war will be a factor in the 2008 elections.

A year ago 72% of the troops in Iraq said all troops should come home in 2006 but politicians did not heed their message. How much better we would be if our support included listening to them. Not another drop of blood should be spilled to protect cowardice by both political parties.

AMERICANS WANT TROOP WITHDRAWAL: The Democratic leadership has disregarded national polls showing that 60% of all Americans and 80% of Democratic voters oppose the increase troop levels in Iraq. Grassroots progressive organizations overwhelmingly oppose the occupation of Iraq and the recent escalation. One group closely allied to the Democratic leadership, MoveOn, has used antiwar sentiment to triple both its membership and fundraising, but has been AWOL from antiwar activity; its members are prohibited from demonstrations, and only vigils for the war dead are posted as events on their website. A month ago I wrote that MoveOn began efforts to support "slow bleed" while antiwar forces actively opposed it. Recently MoveOn fabricated a biased push-poll in which “85%” of respondents supported “slow bleed”; however, the 96% of the MoveOn members who favor withdrawal, and who were not offered a vote on that option, refused to participate in a sham. Congressional sources report that the spurious MoveOn poll, together with intensive bullying and bribing, was used to erode the principled opposition of congressional progressives.

A reliable poll conducted by True Majority, another group with progressive membership, found that only 24% favored the “slow bleed” policy while 76% favored immediate or near-term withdrawal. A Zogby poll sponsored by CODEPINK found that 90% of progressives/liberals favored near-term withdrawal. 96% of progressives question the push-poll used by MoveOn that gave such contrary results. Antiwar groups that fought for withdrawal (United for Peace and Justice, Progressive Democrats of America, US Labor Against the War, After Downing Street, Democrats.com, Peace Action, Code Pink, Democracy Rising, True Majority, Gold Star Families for Peace, Military Families Speak Out, Backbone Campaign, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Voters for Peace, Veterans for Peace, the Green Party) are irate at the MoveOn duplicity.

MoveOn is now raising funds from antiwar supporters to attack Senate opposition to the supplemental., but the activist community is now aware that MoveOn is not the cathartic needed to address Democratic Party constipation. There is at least one Democratic senator, Russ Feingold, who could oppose the funding farce. eli@moveon.org, Namrita.Chaudhary@gmail.com , tom@moveon.org, and you can unsubscribe! You also can refuse to lend them your name (their petitions are mainly for fund-raising), your efforts, and your money, and instead join with one of the many active progressive and antiwar organizations (check out United for Peace and Justice- UFPJ for a detailed listing of local and national groups, which incidentally does not include MoveOn). None of the MoveOn leadership has served their country in the armed forces; like Dick Cheney and 95% of Congress they had more important things to do, which did not and do not include supporting the troops that are in harms way. MoveOn is an autocratic organization run by a small group of elitist wannabe power-brokers; it cannot be reformed, but you can let their politburo know your feelings

The “slow bleed” strategy favored by the Democratic leadership and MoveOn is an immoral political calculation that will cause more heartache and disaster in Iraq. That leadership should understand that being perceived as “weak on principle” is much worse politically than being “weak on defense”. Democratic politicians need to vote their conscience on the supplemental. On November 7^th we voted for an antiwar, anti-Bush policy; make that vote count for peace.

Please tell the Democratic leadership: Bring Our Troops Home Now!

Please visit the Gold Star Families for Peace Website

What Is A Peace Voter To Do?

Jan 10, 2006

By Kevin Zeese

Interviews with Cindy Sheehan and David Swanson on next steps for the anti-war movement

The Iraq War and occupation is at a critical moment. The peace movement needs to be focused to face the challenges before us. This article will be the first in a series reporting on interviews of anti-war activists in order to develop a common agenda, strategy and tactics for the peace movement. This article summarizes interviews with Cindy Sheehan and David Swanson. (A link to the videos is at the bottom of this article.)

The anti-war movement has come a long way since its low point – the re-election of President Bush in 2004. Peace voters dominated the electorate in 2006 with the defeat of some leading Iraq War hawks, e.g., Sen. George Allen (VA) and Sen. Rick Santorum (PA) who were formerly talking about running for president. And, the leadership of the Congress changed hands from the Republicans to the Democrats. But now, there is talk of escalation in Iraq and the Democrats have taken the power of the purse – the only way they can end the war – off the table.

What is a peace voter to do?

Cindy Sheehan woke up the peace movement after the 2004 presidential election year when the movement went adrift quietly and in some cases aggressively supporting the “I can manage the war better” Kerry campaign. When she camped in a ditch outside of President Bush’s ranch in Crawford she awoke the peace movement and gave it direction, visibility and energy. I asked Cindy what peace activists should be doing now? Her response emphasized that we have the power – citizens opposed to the war must continue to lead the government out of Iraq. Rather than “building a movement” we should focus on taking action now – as successful actions result in expansion of the movement.

She also talked about the mistake she made of supporting a pro-war candidate like Sen. John Kerry and how she would not make that mistake again. She now believes that in order to get the government we want we need to vote for people who represent our views. She is supportive of Rep. Kucinich’s campaign and hopes he runs independently if he does not win the Democratic nomination. In the general election she will support the anti-war candidate and urged a third party challenge if Hillary Clinton, John McCain or other hawkish candidates.

Sheehan emphasized that it was time to make it clear to the Democrats that they would not be given a free ride. It is well and good to focus on health care, salaries and social programs but we cannot pay for such programs if we are spending hundreds of billions of dollars on Iraq. To ensure ending the Iraq war is a priority the peace movement needs to escalate our efforts against politicians from either party who continue to support the war. The key test is not opposing the escalation, that is not enough, elected officials must stop funding the war and bring the troops home. She urged visiting your elected representatives and sitting in their office until they agreed to end the war – occupy the offices of those who favor occupation of Iraq.

Cindy urged a “peace escalation” in response to talk by the administration about increasing the number of troops in Iraq. She began the peace surge on the opening day of Congress by taking over a press conference where Majority Leader Rahm Emanuel was speaking.

My second interview was with David Swanson of AfterDowningStreet.org. We talked at sunset outside of the White House as a demonstration was just getting started behind us. David is an untiring activist who has worked on both the Iraq War and impeachment of President Bush among other issues. While he urged activists to insist their elected representatives oppose the so-called surge, he said that was not enough and lets them off too easily. Elected officials need to stop the war and withdraw the troops. He talked about the need to withdraw the troops in ways that give Iraq a chance, i.e. funding the reconstruction, urging Iraqi’s to return home and underwrite the cost of a peace keeping or security force.

David described the demands the peace movement should make on Congress as falling in to two broad categories: stop the funding and begin withdrawal; investigate the misuse and manipulation of intelligence and other crimes.

David also talked about the “peace surge” and Cindy Sheehan’s takeover of a Democratic leadership press conference. He first described the effort by Capitol Hill police to keep anti-war activists from being information into the House office building. But, after going up the chain of command activists were allowed to bring in materials for Members and their staff. He then described the takeover of the press conference with Cindy leading a chant of “de-escalate, investigate, troops home now.” After a handful of chants Majority Leader Rahm Emanuel ran from the room and the media asked Cindy to take the podium and she responded to questions.

We are at a critical time in the Iraq War. There is a new Congress that knows the voters want the Iraq War to end. We sent a message that careers will be ended over the Iraq War. Politicians up for re-election don’t want to suffer the fate of Senators Allen and Santorum (there are 22 Republican Senators up for re-election in 2008 and 12 Democrats). Not only are President Bush, and some key senators (e.g., Senators McCain, Graham and Lieberman) calling for an increase of troops but there is also a lot of talk in the media about an attack on Iran.

The anti-war movement has shown it has political muscle, now it must work in a coordinated way to achieve our goals – end the Iraq War, prevent an attack on Iran and investigate those responsible for getting the U.S. into this mistaken quagmire.

You can see the full video interviews at: http://democracyrising.us/content/view/708/164/

Kevin Zeese is director of DemocracyRising.US and a co-founder of VotersForPeace.US.

Sheehan among 4 convicted of trespassing

By SAMUEL MAULL, Associated Press Writer 1 minute ago

Peace activist Cindy Sheehan and three other women were convicted of trespassing Monday for trying to delivery an anti-Iraq war petition to the U.S. Mission to the United Nations and refusing to leave.

A Manhattan Criminal Court judge sentenced them immediately to conditional discharge, which means they could face some form of penalty if they are arrested in the next six months, and ordered them to pay $95 in court surcharges.

Sheehan and about 100 other members of a group called Global Exchange were rebuffed last March when they attempted to take a petition with some 72,000 signatures to the U.S. Mission's headquarters across a street from the United Nations.

Prosecutors said they were arrested after ignoring police orders to disperse.

The four were acquitted of disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and obstructing government administration. They had faced up to a year in jail if convicted of all counts.

Sheehan, 49, of Vacaville, Calif., lost her 24-year-old son Casey in Iraq on April 4, 2004. She has since emerged as one of the most vocal and high-profile opponents of the war, drawing international attention when she camped outside President Bush's Texas ranch to protest the war.

The women, calling their campaign "Women Say No To War," had hoped to give the petition to Peggy Kerry, the mission's liaison for non-governmental organizations and sister of Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., as they had in 2005.

Kerry refused to meet with the women in the presence of Cindy Sheehan and the news media. She testified during the trial that the presentation seemed like a publicity stunt.

The women ignored police orders to leave and were reading it aloud on the sidewalk when police moved in. The women sat on the sidewalk and were carried to patrol wagons.

Sheehan's co-defendants were Melissa Beattie, 57, of New York; Susan "Medea" Benjamin, 54, of San Francisco; and Patricia Ackerman, 48, of Nyack, N.Y.