Sympathy for Sheehan

CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) -- Cindy Sheehan's eyes well with tears when she talks about her oldest son, Casey, an easygoing young man with a quiet wit.

Casey joined the Army in 2000, never imagining he would see combat. Five days after he arrived in Iraq last year, the 24-year-old was killed in Sadr City.

Why would Casey believe that he could join the Army and assume that he would never be placed in harm's way? I can't believe that he didn't understand.

Sheehan, a Catholic youth minister for eight years, never wanted Casey to join the military. She said he did after being misled by his recruiter. Although he also opposed the war, he didn't try to back out.

I wonder how he was "misled." I'd be interested to know what the recruiter did that was inappropriate. If Casey was misled, that recruiter should be reprimanded and face some harsh penalty for employing misleading tactics.

"I begged him not to go," she said through tears. "I said, 'I'll take you to Canada' ... but he said, 'Mom, I have to go. It's my duty. My buddies are going.'"

Doesn't this mean that Casey did what he wanted to do?

He was not willing to shirk the commitment he chose to make to his country. Like tens of thousands of other Americans, he chose to fulfill his duty with courage and honor.

Casey didn't desert as his mom wanted him to do. Cindy Sheehan needs to come to terms with her son's choice.

Today, President Bush commented on Cindy Sheehan and her protest.

CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) -- President Bush said Thursday he understands and respects the views of anti-war advocates like a California mother camped outside his Texas ranch to mourn her soldier son fallen in Iraq, but said it would be a mistake to bring U.S. troops home now.

"I understand the anguish that some feel about the death that takes place," Bush said.

"I also have heard the voices of those saying: Pull out now," he said. "And I've thought about their cry and their sincere desire to reduce the loss of life by pulling our troops out. I just strongly disagree."

Immediate withdrawal "would send a terrible signal to the enemy."

..."I sympathize with Mrs. Sheehan," Bush said. "She feels strongly about her position, and she has every right in the world to say what she believes. This is America. She has a right to her position, and I thought long and hard about her position. I've heard her position from others, which is: Get out of Iraq now. And it would be a mistake for the security of this country and the ability to lay the foundations for peace in the long run if we were to do so."

Hear that liberals?

Bush is validating Sheehan's right to say what she believes and to protest his policies.

While she continues to make comments about him being cowardly and being responsible for killing Casey, Bush offers Sheehan sympathy for the loss of her beloved son.

He also makes it clear that completing the mission in Iraq is the best way to honor the memory of all the Americans who have made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq.


Bush said, "You know, I grieve for every death. It breaks my heart to think about a family weeping over the loss of a loved one."

I believe that.