At today’s pro-Bush/pro-Iraq rally in Crawford, parents of fallen soldiers took the stage to counter the anti-Bush/anti-war rhetoric of Cindy Sheehan and her supporters. The reported 3,000 who turned out for the support rally withstood the 100-degree Texas heat to hear moving tales from parents like this one:

“We have the responsibility to support our troops and to remember how it began on September, 11th. Our leaders made a pledge to demolish terrorism on a global scale. We were told it wouldn’t be easy and we were told it could take years. And what did we do? We clapped our hands, we shouted hurray, and waved our flags and said, ‘Go get them, we’re with you.’ And now four years later as our nation looks to Crawford, Texas, we stand divided because we’re beginning to feel it in our pocketbooks. The price at the gasoline pumps has gone up, making our budgets stretch further and further. And some of our soldiers have died.”

Next to take the stage was M.J. Kesterson, whose son Erik Kesterson was killed in Iraq on November 15th, 2003. Kesterson had already served in the Marines for eight years before signing up to become a Blackhawk pilot with the Army after September 11th. Kesterson told the crowd:

“My husband and I couldn’t be prouder yesterday, today and tomorrow to be Americans. I want you all to understand, I am not speaking out – I, and my husband are speaking up. … When September 11th happened I changed my life completely as all of us Americans have who are fighting to get the word out. Our son was Warrant Officer part of 101st Airborne, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Our son, before he became a Blackhawk pilot with the 101st was a U.S. Marine. Our son was actually serving in Pendleton, California. He was on a training exercise. The Huey he was a crew chief on crashed. Eric had only four months left after an eight-year career in the Marine Corps. He was going to come home and try civilian life. That helicopter changed his life as well. When he went down, he was able to get off but the seven other Marines wouldn’t be able to do that. They were stuck, the helicopter was burning. Eric went back and rescued all seven and was honored with the Marine Corps Medal of Heroism.”

“He was quick to tell us that that’s the job of a comrade serving in uniform. We were very proud, we had him for 10 months then 9/11 happened. My husband and I knew even before our son that knock on the door had our son coming to tell us that he was going back to go in was just days away. When he did come to tell us he was going back, he said, ‘Please understand, I want to fly the Blackhawk. I can’t do it with the Corps, but I can do it with the Army. He became a Warrant Officer. He served our country proudly. He was shot down in Mosul, November, 15th, 2003 bring a striker brigade to an area that was under assault. We will forever be proud of our son. Neither of us can wear that uniform, but we will the uniform of an American. We are going to forever remind people that our freedom today did come at a high price, but freedom is worth all the sacrifices each one of us must make. It is a tough thing to have that knock at the front door, but our son chose not to serve once, but to serve two times.”

There have been hundreds of liberal readers writing in to The Buzz this past week asking, “Where are all the Bush supporters?” Granted, until today, those squatting on the Crawford roads and cattle farms have predominantly been protesters of the president. But as I’ve also previously mentioned, most who pass by the scenes acknowledge their support for Bush and the war.

The media has also done the public a disservice by misrepresenting the actual number of protesters on the scene. Selective camera shots of Cindy Sheehan and her supporters provide a pre-meditated story from the scene that makes the casual reader think there have been thousands of supporters on hand every day.

As fair reports from honest reporters at the Associated Press have noted, there have actually only been “dozens” of reporters on hand with the exception of Saturday afternoons like today.

Here are the protesters at their peak:

And the police who stand between those at “Camp Casey” and those at “Camp Reality.”

And some of those at “Camp Reality”:

Thousands have descended upon Crawford Texas today. By protesters estimates, they are near their full capacity of 2,000. However, some sources from non-partisan news organizations are putting the number at closer to 1,500.

Organizers at the Crawford City Center have gathered in support of President and our soldiers fighting overseas. And for the first time since Cindy Sheehan’s anti-war protest began, those organized to support President Bush and the war in Iraq outnumber the protesters. Organizers for the pro-Bush rally put their numbers at 3,500, while some media accounts put it closer to 3,000.

Parents and relatives of fallen soldiers in Iraq are standing up one after the other to tell their stories and why they continue to support the war on terror.

Those at “Camp Qualls” have their own unique version of the memorial crosses erected by the anti-Bush war protesters over at “Camp Casey” and “Camp Casey II.” Rather than presuming to speak for the families of the fallen, those at “Camp Qualls” are letting the families themselves give permission to erect memorials in honor of their fallen sons and daughters:

Some parents themselves have personally arrived to plant the crosses.

When Marine Lance Cpl. Louis Wayne Qualls was in Iraq, a member of his company had a shirt for Harley Davidson Kuwait that Qualls greatly admired. He tried to buy the shirt, but since it was rare his friend wanted to keep the shirt for himself. After Qualls was killed in Iraq, the friend mailed the shirt back to Gary Qualls signed by every member of his son’s company. Included with the shirt was a letter from the company expressing their sympathy to Mr. Qualls for his loss.

We’ve heard more than enough from Cindy Sheehan and her supporters. Can’t say I’m exactly innocent in this regard. But what about the parents of fallen soldiers who continue to support the war in Iraq? Gregg Garvey is one such American. Mr. Garvey lost his son, Sgt. Justin Wrisley Garvey in Iraq on July 20, 2003.

Not only does Garvey continue to personally support the war his son died fighting in, but he’s also heading up a project to build memorials in the hometowns of every fallen U.S. soldier from the war. Garvey runs a group called Lest They Be Forgotten that is raising money and support for his memorial effort. Their mission statement reads:

“To create, establish and help maintain hometown memorials in honor of our brave men and women who have lost their lives defending the United States of America in our War Against Terrorism.”

I asked Garvey to describe why he’s here at “Camp Qualls” supporting the president and the continued war on terror:

“I lost my oldest son in Iraq. I’ve been working on this memorial project for two years every since my son was killed. I was sitting at home in Florida watching what was going on here and had no idea what to expect. I’m not here because of politics. The election is over. The president won again, and it’s time as they say to move on again. But at the same time I was not going to sit at home and watch what was going on here, this travesty and injustice to my son and all of his fallen brothers and sisters.”

Garvey has actually been staying with Gary Qualls in his Crawford home while the two maintain a growing tribute site to fallen soldiers and supporting this president and this war:

“We’re brothers in a way we never anticipated. We have a lot of the same healing towards the desecration of our sons and daughters. This is no longer about a grieving mother over there. She referred to these terrorists as freedom fighters. The media insists on calling them insurgents. They are neither. They are terrorists. We liberated that country and now the terrorists are invading that country.”

Garvey says liberal activists like Cindy Sheehan and the mainstream media are making an already difficult war more challenging not only for those fighting it but those who want to support it:

“I would like to see the number of innocent Iraqi citizens these terrorists have murdered. If the Americans were bombarded with those numbers every day, we might not see this supposed 60 percent disapproval rating.”

I’ve been spending most of the afternoon hanging out with the patriots at Camp Qualls. Despite liberal accusations to the contrary, the number of Americans coming out to support President Bush is growing with each passing day if not hour. First, I spoke with Tom Ralls, who is the Director of Community Services for the Texas Military Family Foundation. Tom has been at Camp Qualls for the past week making his voice known as a supporter of President and the liberation of Iraq. I asked Tom what he thinks of the anti-war protestors and Cindy Sheehan:

“I think they’re uninformed. If they knew how many lives her son had touched and how many generations of Iraqi children will be free; business owners, doctors, members of a society where they can live freely. The changes are amazing.”

Ralls said Cindy Sheehan has become the story. But he thinks no matter where you stand on this war it should really be about Casey Sheehan:

“How she raised an American, red-blooded young man is beyond me. But thank God she did. He’s really touched a lot of lives. Unfortunately, people are forgetting who he really was. Some people are coming out here and only know him as ‘Cindy’s son.’ He died a hero. We’re going to be here as long as they are.”

Finally, Buzz reader Frank writes in pointing out what he sees as the strengths and weaknesses of fellow Buzz readers Mark and SEP’s arguments:

Mark's basic point (that the war continues) is well made, and I had that response while reading SEP's message. I would, however, point out to Mark that the U.S. active participation in "the War" began in October of 2001, and that regardless of how or why, it will continue beyond our primary redeployment from Iraq. I would also point out that Mark ignores SEP's fundamental question: "At this point, our forces are devoted to defending civilians, rebuilding infrastructure and training Iraqi forces to take over the job. What of this, exactly, are the protestors against?"

Democrat Buzz reader Mark writes in to make a few points. While I disagree with Mark’s criticism of President Bush’s handling of the war, he could not be more correct in his point that this still is a war:

A war isn't over just because a strategic bombing campaign destroyed Saddam Hussein's radar stations. (The tanks are still rolling over there by the way, and there are still plenty of terrorists all over the country.) Bush declared the war over May 2, 2003. Prior to that, 140 Americans died in Iraq.


Since then, 1,734 Americans have died fighting insurgents.


Regardless of your position on whether going to war was right (and I thought it was), the war is not over. As a member of a military family, I was disgusted by that last post from one of your fellow readers. Conservatives would do well to remember that Iraq is not a video game. While the American military as a whole is not defeated by any means, a whole lot of our people have died and continue to die every day over there. And that's why the public has lost faith in George Bush's handling of the war.

There has been no shortage of “chicken-hawk” emails arriving at my inbox this past week as I report on the president’s supporters and his opponents here in Crawford. The Chicken-hawk argument is a cheap insult at best and certainly a logical fallacy. Rich Lowry has a great piece today on NRO picking apart the details of the Left’s favorite method of attacking those of us who support U.S. troops and their mission in Iraq:

Its logic, if taken seriously, actually would boost the hawks. If only members of the military — who are overwhelmingly conservative — were considered competent to decide the nation’s posture on matters of war and peace, we would have an even more forward-leaning foreign policy. I’m comfortable letting the 82nd Airborne decide what we do about anti-American rogue states. Are opponents of the war? I’m guessing that even if you let only mothers of fallen soldiers in Iraq direct our Iraq policy, the result would be stay-the-course rather than the immediate pullout favored by Sheehan.

Buzz reader SEP writes in trying to figure out just exactly what the protesters are fighting against:

I had a thought about the anti-war protests. The WAR, in the sense that one would be opposed to “war”, is long-since over. All of the tanks that are going to roll across the frontier have rolled. All the radar stations that are to be taken out by our strategic bombing campaign have been taken out. All the dictators which are to be overthrown have been overthrown. At this point, our forces are devoted to defending civilians, rebuilding infrastructure and training Iraqi forces to take over the job. What of this, exactly, are the protestors against?

Here is Cindy Sheehan from the other night on who she thinks is responsible for the death of her son. Not the terrorists in Iraq, they are “militia” in her twisted world view:

Casey was such a gentle kind loving person. He never even got in one fist fight his whole life. Nobody even hated him enough to punch him let alone kill him, and that’s what George Bush did. He put our kids in another person’s country and Casey was killed by insurgents. He wasn’t killed by terrorists. He was killed by Shiite militia who wanted him out of the country, when Casey was told he was going to be welcomed with chocolate and flowers as a liberator. Well, the people of Iraq saw it differently. They saw him as an occupier.

It feels like a waste of space to even be mentioning this, but Al Sharpton is coming to Crawford on Sunday. So are a group of Neo-Nazis. Like the protesters say, they really do have “support” from all corners of this nation. Although it’s a slightly different story when you take a look at just who is supporting your cause.

I’ll be on the Laura Ingraham show this morning at just after 9:00amEST. Hope you can tune in.

While news cameras were filming the event, Marine Jeff Key physically grabbed a cameraman from San Francisco local affiliate KGO. Key objected to the cameraman’s shooting position, which was on the same site where the protesters have erected crosses listing the names of fallen soldiers in Iraq. Here's a photo from right before the altercation took place:

I asked Mark Matthews of KGO about the alleged assault, “I’m not happy about it. We’re happy to abide by the rules when we know what the rules are. But there was no message communicated to us to stay out of the crosses. And last night, photographers, supporters of Cindy Sheehan, people praying, clapping and singing were here amongst the crosses. 13 hours later, it’s off limits without any notification to us.”

I asked one of Sheehan’s spokeswoman if she condoned Key’s assault of the cameraman. She would not answer my question directly, instead saying, “I think if we all do our fair share, we’ll work to keep everybody out of the way … That’s all we need is to have people stay out of the crosses … I think that’s all being worked out privately. I think the cameraman and the Iraq veteran was doing his best to honor the fallen will work it out.”

Here's a pic of the spokeswoman who refused to answser my question:

Cindy Sheehan just finished her morning media event. When asked by reporters, Sheehan said she believes that while she supports the continued hunt for Osama bin Laden she believes the U.S. should withdraw from Afghanistan and “stop bombing innocent people.” She also described Osama bin Laden as being “allegedly” behind the attacks of 9/11.

To those who have criticized her political stance, which includes allegations that the war in Iraq was “done for Israel” that George Bush is “the world’s biggest terrorist” and that al Qaeda may not be behind attacks on America, Sheehan said, “I know my son better than anyone else. I don’t want anymore of my buddies killed just because I’m dead.” I know when it’s my time to greet him, he’s going to say ‘Good job, Mom.’ He’s not going to accuse me of dishonoring his memory.”

On the mothers of fallen soldiers who continue to support President Bush and the liberation of Iraq, Sheehan said, “I’ve never said I speak for every Gold Star family. But I know I speak for thousands of them. But it affects our entire humanity when one country wages an illegal and immoral war on another country.”

Buzz reader Tim, who actually knows a little something about this sort of thing, writes in with some insight on whether or not Cindy Sheehan’s Gold Star Moms For Peace are potentially in violation of IRS non-profit regulations regarding political activity:

Also notice, aside from obviously not being qualified for 501(c)3 status, GSMFP don't know the difference between "anxious" and "eager". They are "eager to" have an opportunity to meet with Bush, they'd be "anxious about" same. Furthermore, if they think calling Bush a liar will make him want to meet any more, they're bloody delusional.


On a side note they might be able to qualify as one of the other tax-exempt organizations such as:


501(c)4: which promotes "social welfare"
501(c)5: is reserved for labor and agricultural groups
501(c)6: is reserved for business leagues, chambers of commerce, real-estate boards, and the like.


However, if GSMFP loses its tax-exempt status under 501(c)3, they cannot then qualify under 501(c)4, although I doubt that'd be much of a hindrance to the MoveOn-inites, as they could always change the name enough and re-file.

Well, it’s true, from a certain point of view…

Here is the banner of Casey Sheehan that Cindy Sheehan sat down in front of upon her return to “Camp Casey II” last night:

Buzz reader David wrote in to me last night saying:

“DO you and Cindy have a date tonight? You seem to like kissing her ass.”

Dave is upset that I did not attack Cindy Sheehan immediately upon her return to “Camp Casey II” last night. I do not support Sheehan’s political agenda. I am particularly disgusted by her anti-Semitic commentary and her accusations that President Bush is the “biggest terrorist” in the world and that the terrorists in Iraq are “a militia.” Nonetheless, I respect her loss and her right to grief. I will be pursuing Ms. Sheehan for answers to important questions regarding her accusations. But if respecting her desire for a few hours to relax before meeting with the media makes me a horrible person, I’ll just have to find a way to sleep at night.

I was on the scene last night at “Camp Casey II” for Cindy Sheehan’s return. It was an emotional moment for the protesters and Ms. Sheehan. About 10 supporters encircled Sheehan quite literally fanning her with protest signs, while others brought her catered food and refreshments. The protesters sat Ms. Sheehan in front of a large banner they had created in honor of her son. As he sat reuniting with her supporters Sheehan and several of the protesters broke into tears.

Sheehan’s handlers said she was refusing to give any media interviews last night and I respected their request. After having a bite to eat, Sheehan joked with her supporters, mocking the Bush supporters standing outside “Camp Casey II.” A few of the protesters walked outside the campsite to engage in hostile “dialogue” with the Bush supporters. In an unintentional moment of irony, one of the protesters screamed in a bit of self-righteous rage, “What are they doing here? They can’t protest!”

Despite the press handlers’ claims that Sheehan was physically exhausted, she appeared in good spirits. Most of the photos I have seen in the media today reflect the moment where Sheehan was crying. I do think this is somewhat misleading. While she is certainly entitled to her grief, most of the scene was quite jovial, which is not reflected in the mainstream media’s coverage. I’m not denying Ms. Sheehan her right to a cathartic moment, merely bringing you the full story and facts from the ground.

Rumsfeld Responds to Hagel

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was asked by a reporter today to respond to Chuck Hagel’s assertion that Iraq is becoming like Vietnam:

Q And what do you say to Senator Chuck Hagel, a prominent Republican, Vietnam War vet, who over the weekend compared what's going on in Iraq now to the Vietnam War?


SEC. RUMSFELD: The differences are so notable that it would take too long to list them.

Chuck Hagel, (I-NE)?

Ankle Biting Pundits passes along their potentially huge scoop that Republican Senator Chuck Hagel may be considering running as an independent in 2008:

Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel is privately meeting with his top advisors and political contributors to discuss the prospects of an independent bid for the White House in 2008, a high level GOP source told me this morning. …


At issue is the concern among Hagel higher-ups that the Nebraska Senator will not be able to outshine Sen. John McCain in a GOP primary. . … Should Senator John McCain win the GOP primary, Hagel would likely endorse his friend (and maybe even angle for a #2 spot on an “all maverick” ticket.) If McCain were to lose and the GOP to nominate a right-winger, Hagel would try to tap into the disaffected McCain primary vote in a three-way general election.


“When we hear Hagel say things like ‘Iraq is looking like Vietnam,’ that’s him testing the independent waters,” my source told me. “He knows the media loves a self-loathing Republican. And all the accolades showered on Jim Jeffords for bailing on the GOP was not lost on Chuck Hagel.”

Everyone is getting geared up for Cindy Sheehan’s planned return to Crawford today. The buzz is that Sheehan will stop by the original “Camp Casey” at around 5pm CST before making her way over to the new, larger campsite.

In the meantime, the protesters are taking a break from, well, protesting to cook up some food:

The “Camp Casey II” organizers are getting things in order for what should be the largest crowd yet:

The media vans have already started showing up:

And that includes some fancy, well-groomed reporters getting ready for their live shots:

“Camp Casey II” even has some designated “traffic cops” making sure no one interferes with the Secret Service checkpoint to the Bush ranch:

The Gold Star Moms for Peace have sent a letter to President Bush. If you have not already, please take a look at my post from yesterday reporting that the group’s overt political activity may be in violation of IRS laws governing non-profit organizations:

Dear Mr. President,


We respect the opportunity given to a selected group of military families to speak with you. As Gold Star moms and military families, we’ve been anxious to have the same opportunity to speak with you for just an hour out of your five week vacation here in Crawford.


We heard you say you want to get on with your life, but with all due respect, getting on with our lives isn't an option. Many of our families have paid the ultimate price for your administration's lies leading up to the war in Iraq. For the rest of us, every day brings new fears that our loved ones will be wounded, psychologically damaged or killed. We all deserve answers. Harm, danger, death and grief entered our living rooms the moment you went to war with a country that posed no threat to America and had nothing to do with the war on terrorism. You may think not all military families are like Cindy Sheehan. But Cindy Sheehan is not alone. We all stand by her side outside your ranch. We are joined by thousands of other military families across the country. And thousands more Americans held vigils last week to show their support for us.


We still need answers and wait patiently outside your vacation ranch to ask you what noble cause our sons and daughters fight and die for? Too many of our loved ones have already paid the ultimate price. For those of us with loved ones deployed or about to deploy, every day threatens to transform us from a military family to a Gold Star family. You put our troops in harm's way based on a lie. We are military families who demand and end to the lies, and call for you to bring our troops home now.

I’ll be back on the Northwest edition of the Lars Larson show today at 2:30PST. Hope you can tune in.

Follow the link above to listen in live.

Over at “Camp Qualls,” there has been ongoing tension between the protestors and Gary Qualls whose son Lance Cpl. Louis Wayne Qualls was killed while serving in Iraq last year. Mr. Qualls objects to the protesters use of his sons name in their protest crosses. Gary has removed the cross more than once only to have protesters repeatedly build others bearing Qualls’ name.

A group transporting the nation’s only traveling liberty bell has a sign outside Camp Qualls in Crawford that reads, “Thanks To Our Troops.” Last night, some protesters came along and defaced the sign. I’m not posting this photo to give free publicity to the protesters and their cause. I’m posting it to show the level of discourse we’re dealing with out here from many on the left side of the political aisle. Anger and cheap shots are no substitute for rational thought.

Special thanks to the Crawford Coffee Station. Not only are they serving up delicious comfort food every day, but also they are not shy about acknowledging their support for President Bush and the troops in Iraq.

I have been fortunate enough to have lunch their the past two days and will no doubt be back for more. Today’s lunch special: smothered chicken fried steak, green beans, mashed potatoes. I washed it all down with a bottle of Big Red. While I was eating, I was joined by Nick who helps run the Coffee Station and we had a good chat about the protestors. Nick was wearing a “Western White House” t-shirt and walked into the room announcing that even though it was only 11am, he was already tired.

Nick told me, “I don’t mind the commotion. But it sure is busy down here. One thing I’m worried about is just making sure we have enough gas for the Secret Service.”

The only downside to the conversation was when Nick realized what a pathetic appetite I have. I spared him the details of my Crohn’s Disease, but boxed up what was left of my “breakfast” and I’m sure he’d be happy to know I’m devouring the rest right now over at the protest site.

While I was waiting in line for the restroom I struck up a conversation with one of the anti-war protestors. He told he’s been here for a week but is driving back home tonight to Tucson, Arizona. He hopes to bring back more protestors later this week. When he came out of the bathroom, the protester heckled the Coffee Station curators for a sign in their bathroom promoting homeland security. Honestly, no one really seemed to care.

I’m headed back to the protest sites where everyone is awaiting the return of Cindy Sheehan and President Bush. Crawford, Texas population 705 is about to get a little more crowded.

Appearing in Idaho, President Bush told the press yesterday that giving in to Cindy Sheehan’s demand for a withdrawal would be a mistake:

“I think immediate withdrawal from Iraq would be a mistake. I think those who advocate immediate withdrawal from not only Iraq but the Middle East are advocating a policy that would weaken the United States.”

After Joan Baez and Rebecca Mac Neice finished filming their documentary interview over at “Camp Reality” I had a few moments to speak with Paul Van Heden, who runs a blog at Brainshrub.com.

Brian is part of the progressive movement and I assume here to support Cindy Sheehan’s cause. We may not have a lot in common politically, but I had a surprisingly pleasant and informative conversation with Paul. Then, I went back and checked out his website. Political disagreements aside, he has some great stuff worth checking out. I particularly enjoyed his assessment of those on the scene in Crawford:

Most people have gone home, there are about 200 people left. In my mind there are four groups of people:


The bliss-ninnies: These are the folks who have just arrived from the road. Most of them are so agog at what they are seeing, and they have so many questions, that they wander around in a state of confused bliss. The Adjusted: These are activists and citizens who are working hard to pull this off. After you go through the bliss-ninny phase, you get bored pretty quickly without some choir. Eventually everyone goes to the Peace House and is given a responsibility. The Press: The Corporate Media only stay for a few hours a day, if they come at all. (I saw an AP reporter stop by earlier to talk to Joan Baez.) Indie Media is here, but it's light. I think AAR broadcast from here earlier. As far as I know, BradBlog, Truthout & Brainshrub are the only serious bloggers here. (Apologies if there are more, but I haven't seen them.) The moon-bats: I hate to admit it, but we on the Left have nut-balls also. For example, there is a former military guy wandering around trying to convince people that the US govt used neutron bombs in Baghdad. I'd say there are about 3 "certified" moon-bats here. When there were more people, they blended in with the crowd. Now that the numbers are thinner, their behavior can be a bit disruptive.

Over at the main NRO site this morning, you can read my full piece on the trials and tribulations over at “Camp Reality.” More specifically, you can read the stories of real-life heroes like 18-year-old Bethany Berry and the families of those serving in Iraq.

Buzz reader Steve writes in this morning:

I commend you for some nice work on the ground in Crawford. The pictures and your posts give me a sense that this is more akin to a swap meet than a groundswell uprising.


I read the Huffington piece attributed to Ms. Sheehan this morning. It looks like her tone has been massaged a bit. I noticed that the vitriol is gone in place of a nicely tightened theme and message (albeit specious, with poor logical moorings.) One can only assume that the MoveOn-sters have taken charge fully and are providing her with the tactical direction she formerly lacked.


I think this will backfire on her, however. Surely, there must be some unspoken axiom describing how hollow indignation are unsustainable in the long run. While I cannot recall the old saying, I can remember its latest manifestation; “John Kerry, Reporting for Duty!”

I’ll be on the air with Brian Pierce of WNNS 98.7 Springfield in just about half an hour.

Cindy Sheehan made her announcement official on the Huffington Post this morning; she’s coming back to Crawford:

“I'm coming back to Crawford for my son. As long as the president, who sent him to die in a senseless war, is in Crawford, that is where I belong. I came here two and a half weeks ago for one reason, to try and see the president and get an answer to a very simple question: What is the noble cause that he says my son died for?”

While I was at “Camp Reality,” Joan Baez and a camera crew stopped by to interview the Bush supporters. To Ms. Baez’s credit, she was quite respectful and diplomatic when talking with the supporters, even though they have very different views on the war and President Bush. Baez even showed more respect for President Bush than many on the left, referring to President Bush as “my president.” She was also kind enough to answer a few questions for The Buzz.

When the United States withdrew forces from Vietnam, Baez received much criticism from the left for stating a vital truth: Even though the war in Vietnam was “over” from the U.S. military’s point of view, thousands of innocent Vietnamese were still being murdered by the communist regime. So, I asked Baez if she’s concerned a similar situation would transpire were U.S. forces to withdraw from Iraq:

“As Gandhi once said, yes there will be chaos, but it will be our chaos. Yes, there will be massive chaos, but nothing is going to stop the massive chaos. That’s my answer.”

I then asked Baez what she thinks the U.S. and international community could do to ensure a peaceful transition if and when the U.S. leaves Iraq:

“There’s no way to ensure a peaceful transition. There’s already been so much chaos and unnecessary violence. Much of that has been created by us. But there was already this disgusting level of chaos and violence with Saddam Hussein.”

“We’ve just made ourselves so loathsome that whatever happens I think will be better. We have antagonized the world so much. I mean, I travel a lot. When I’m in places like Italy I memorize the Italian translation and I say, ‘I ask for your forgiveness for what my president is doing to the world. And they stand, they get up and give a standing ovation, because someone finally does get it. That’s how they see it. Granted, that is my public. But that public is pretty broad.”

Finally, I asked Baez if she thinks there would be similar anti-war protests being held if John Kerry had won the 2004 election:

“You know, the what ifs are so huge. I don’t think he would have invaded Iraq to begin with. He would have understood after 9/11, there was no connection with Iraq. I think that was really the Republican agenda and the work of Karl Rove.”

There are plenty of other Bush supporters today at “Camp Reality” and many have sons serving in Iraq. Here are a few of them who were kind enough to pose for a picture with The Buzz:

One is the mother of Sgt. Andrew C. Kaul, who served in Iraq. Kaul was there for the battles of Fallujah and Najef. He has seen combat in Baghdad as well. Kaul is now back in Ft. Hood and continues to be "very supportive" of the mission.

UPDATE: Just to avoid any confusion, I understand the American Gold Star Mothers represents Americans who have lost children in Iraq. The people I interviewed at "Camp Reality" today have children who are currently serving in Iraq. I should have put the "Gold Star" in my title in quotes. Sorry about any confusion.

UPDATE II: Buzz reader Michael writes in with another correction here. And I've changed the title once again (hopefully for the last time!) to remove any confusion:

There are two operative terms for military families. "Blue Star" and "Gold Star". The terms are used without regard to formal organizations such as American Gold Star Mothers. We, military families, become "Blue Star" when a family member goes on active duty. Doesn't matter if they are a US Marine in the Sunni Triangle or a Coast Guard boat tender in Kansas. We become "Gold Star" when a family member is KIA. It technically should be from combat related injuries, but no body I know would quibble over the designation for someone killed in a non-combat or training accident.

I’ve been spending more time at “Camp Reality” today with the pro-Bush supporters. One gentleman I spoke with named Steve Silvas has a brother serving in Iraq right now. Steve’s brother Sandy has been serving in Iraq since around Thanksgiving. Sgt. First Class Sandy Silvas is an engineer who has been serving with the military for about 15 years. He currently commands 80 people in his company where “morale is high.” Steve wasn’t sure about coming out to support the president at first:

“I was worried about giving his name. The terrorists in Iraq can find that stuff out and can find out where he is. I didn’t want to put him in any greater danger than he already is. So, I emailed him about it and he said said, ‘Just make sure they spell my name right.’”

I’ll be appearing on the Lars Larson show today at 7pm EST. And for any readers out in the Pacific Northwest, I should be appearing on his Northwest show today as well.

And the mighty Cam Edwards has been kind enough to have me back on NRA News this afternoon at 4:40pm EST.

Hope you can tune in for both.

UPDATE: The Northwest Lars Larson appearance is scheduled for 11:50PST.

If liberal activists knew more about the Crawford "Peace House", maybe they wouldn’t have raised the group’s finances from a mere $3 to the $100,000 it reportedly now holds in its PayPal account.

The New York Sun reported on August 11th that the "Peace House" website includes a photo “depicting the entire state of Israel as ‘Palestine,’ and it carries a link to a report that when Prime Minister Sharon visited Crawford, the ‘Peace House’ greeted him with an ‘800-foot-long banner containing all of the United Nations resolutions that Israel is in violating of.’”

In addition, if you visit the “Peace House” website, you’ll find the following statement: “The Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories must end, and the United States must pressure Israel until it agrees to do so.”

It just occurred to me that with all my hippie bashing down here in Crawford, I’m feeling a disturbing connection with another Eric. Perhaps it’s time I change my last name from Pfeiffer to Cartman.

When you get a chance, check out the Texican Tattler blog. Some great blog reporting on the Crawford war on terror protestors from a guy who knows his stuff.

Buzz reader John writes in with a tip on Crawford’s “Peace House,” the organizational front for protestors traveling to and from the two main protest sites:

“Did you hear on the Waco news last night about the Crawford Peace House
being down to $3 in the bank and having its phone service disconnected? If I recall, it was on KCEN (channel 6) last night, though there isn’t anything on their web site.”

Yesterday I was making my way around “Camp Casey” checking out the protest tents, booths and assorted individuals protesting President Bush and the war on terror. There has been some controversy generated by the protestors’ creation of mock crosses acknowledging those U.S. soldiers killed in the line of duty in Iraq. No cross has generated more controversy than that bearing the name of Marine Lance Cpl. Louis Wayne Qualls. Qualls’ father was upset about the use of the cross, as he is a war supporter and knows his son was as well. Against his wishes, protestors have repeatedly placed the cross on display even as Qualls continues to disagree and remove them.

Nonetheless, as I was walking around the protest site I stumbled upon the cross dedicated to Casey Sheehan. All differences about the war aside, it was a powerful moment for me to stumble across it. It was a stark reminder that even as I continue to support the war effort, I am here living comfortably, enjoying America’s freedoms while others are across the world sacrificing to defend those freedoms. I realize that’s not the most original thought, but it’s an honest one. And so far as I’m concerned, it's one worth repeating.

There has also been some confusion regarding the political affiliations of the American Gold Star Mothers. Cindy Sheehan and her fellow anti-war on terror supporters have done an impressive job of misrepresenting the actual AGSM group with the anti-war group Gold Star Families for Peace. The Sheehan’s are founding members of GSFP, but AGSM is not a political organization.

GSFP currently is registered as a 501C3 non-profit organization. When arriving in Crawford, Sheehan spoke for the group when she called for President Bush’s impeachment. She has also demanded “answers” from President Bush on a daily basis. As the Associated Press reported on August 8th, “We GSFP members will not leave until we get answers from George Bush. We deserve and expect him to welcome us with answers to as why our loved ones are dead.”

However, the IRS has established the following guidelines on 501C3 organizations and political activity: “If any of the activities (whether or not substantial) of your organization consist of participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office, your organization will not qualify for tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3). Such participation or intervention includes the publishing or distributing of statement.”

The actual non-political American Gold Star Mothers has attempted to distance themselves from Sheehan via a message on their website: “Cindy Sheehan is currently in the news. She and her organization have no connection whatever with American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. We are a 501(c)(3) organization and, as such, do not engage in political activities. We do support our troops. After all, they are our children.”

It would be up to the appropriate officials to determine if Gold Star Families for Peace are violating the IRS guidelines for non-profit organizations. However, it's clear Sheehand and her supporters are masking their anti-Bush rhetoric in the non-partisan cover of American Gold Star Mothers.

Cindy Sheehan’s connections to MoveOn include a relationship with Fenton Communications, who have coordinated public relations with MoveOn for the last several years. The Houston Chronicle first reported the question back on August 11th, “Sheehan has developed media savvy with assistance from the national public relations firm Fenton Communications, which has also worked with MoveOn.org, the liberal group that campaigned against Bush last year.”

Fenton is also behind the website www.misleader.org, launched in 2003. As the Washington Post reported in September 2003, Fenton said the site was launched to “list President Bush’s ‘misrepresentations, distortions and downright misleading statements.’”

In March 2003, Lloyd Grove reported in the Washington Post that Fenton Communications, “Has been flacking for left-leaning outfits and cause celebs such as Susan Sarandon and Martin Sheen for the past two decades.”

Several Buzz readers have written in asking what Cindy Sheehan’s political activities were before coming to Crawford to protest President Bush and the war on terror. There has been some confusion as to whether Sheehan appeared in a 2004 ad for MoveOn.org. In fact, Sheehan appeared in ads for MoveOn and RealVoices.org. Accessed from the MoveOnPAC.org website, is the following:

“We were especially touched by the statements of Cindy Sheehan, whose son Casey was killed on April 4th of this year. The interview is very difficult to watch, because the hurt and sense of betrayal is so real. But we think the American people need to hear what Cindy Sheehan has to say. So we’re now working to raise $2 million, to air Cindy Sheehan’s ad in key battleground states.”

Across the street from “Camp Casey” is “Camp Qualls” a pro-Bush campsite set up by supporters of American efforts in Iraq. Granted, the site is much smaller than the anti-Bush crowd, but it’s growing each day. And those in attendance might surprise you.

A Palestinian man traveled to and back from Dallas today to supply “Camp Qualls” with a power generator. He says that despite the conventional wisdom, most Palestinians want American forces in Iraq. Their presence is providing the foundation for long term security in the region even if the short term results are less than compelling to some.

Two members from the administration stopped by while I was there and offered to bring food and drinks to those in attendance.

But the person who really caught my attention was a woman named Bethany Berry. Bethany is an 18-year-old who for a time this morning was guarding the pro-Bush campsite on her own while the other supporters were at work or attending to family affairs. Bethany’s father is John Berry, a chaplain with the U.S. Army Reserves and currently serving in Iraq. He has been in and out of the military since 1972. Bethany has spent her life migrating from one small Texas town to another in accordance with the responsibilities of her father’s work. She’s lived in Crawford the past two years.

Berry tells The Buzz, “I’m just here supporting my president. Before my Dad went to Iraq, he was the Methodist preacher for the town.”

Berry says the protestors have been mostly respectful of her and other Bush supporters. But all that changed recently. “One of them came up to me and started taking pictures. It kind of made me uncomfortable, but that’s their right. But the next day a group of them came up to me and said those pictures had been posted on the Internet and the protesters were making fun of my picture. It kind of shocked me. I almost wanted to throw up.”

Like countless other reporters, I spent plenty of time today walking around the original “Camp Casey” site. Even with Cindy Sheehan tending to family matters in California there is no shortage of protesters in attendance. Most have moved on to the larger protest site but many still remain in and around the original ditch where Sheehan first set up shop at the beginning of August. In fact, her tent is still there and it’s become something of a memorial in itself:

The rest of “Camp Casey” is littered with advertisements for various political causes. Everything from PETA, to anti-capitalist activists, to gay rights activists have set up shop to promote their cause. Most Buzz readers disagree with Sheehan’s opinions on the war. But it’s even worse to see the motives of those around her. Granted, there are those who feel passionately about criticizing the war and that’s a fair debate to be had. However, there are those who use the rhetoric of promoting “peace” to push their own separate agenda.

I question their wisdom, but they possess the intelligence to mask their political agenda in the rhetoric of anti-war sentiment. Most are there because they oppose capitalism, George Bush and the American agenda in general. But just because they are savvy in their ability to crouch their true agenda in “peaceful” rhetoric, it doesn’t make that message any less a load of bull.

I should be used to the hippies by now, but I’m not. Folk legend Joan Baez just sat down under the Camp Casey tents to conduct a radio interview. She played a concert here last night and will be giving a speech on political activism tonight at 7pm. Don’t trip over yourself getting out here to take it in. Your reliable Buzz reporter will be here suffering on your behalf. And I thought the heat was annoying.

As luck would have it, I’m now blogging from within the giant “Camp Casey” tent structure. Other than the one person I’ve interviewed so far, no one seems to know my true identity or nefarious political tendencies. However, Democrat/Liberal readers of the Buzz will be pleased to know I am sunburned and swarmed by flies. Damn hippies.

When making your way through Crawford, the first stop in the media circus is the Crawford Peace House. There are many so-called Peace Houses located throughout the nation. I’ve visited at least one other, in Washington, D.C.

The Crawford Peace House is where the organization behind the Cindy Sheehan protests began. Several times a day self-described “Peace Shuttles” and “Cindy Shuttles” transport anti-war protesters from the outskirts of Crawford to the two main "Camp Casey" protest sites.

Walking around the Peace House property I encountered many of the typical elements of the anti-war, anti-corporate, anti-Bush movement. Signs decrying “No blood for oil” and nearly every other aspect of the liberal agenda are on hand for the morbid festivities.

There were a few scattered tents on the property, but the scene was mostly deserted as folks made their way to the protest sites. I guess that’s at least one thing we had in common. So, I jumped back in my Jeep Laredo and headed out…

The Pataki Tapes

The New York Post has transcripts of some unsavory phone calls between George Pataki aide Thomas Doherty, Pataki’s wife, former Senator Alfonse D'Amato and Pataki himself.

Brownback "Close" to '08 Decision

While touring Iowa, Sam Brownback said he’s "close" to making an official decision on whether or not to pursue a 2008 White House Campaign, “I came to meet Iowans and to do warm-up laps while I decide on the 2008 presidential race.”

Brownback noted he’s been discussing the possibility with his family, "We've talked a lot about it, and we're really close" to a decision.

Thompson Considers Run

Former HHS Secretary and Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson acknowledged he too is considering a White House 2008 campaign.

A new Rasmussen Reports poll is out showing that despite high disapproval ratings for the President Bush’s handling of Iraq, most Americans still want U.S. troops to remain until the job is done. 39 percent of those polled want the U.S. to “withdraw its troops from Iraq at this time.” 46 percent disagree with that take and 15 percent remain undecided.

34 percent of those who have served in the military favor a withdrawal. 56 percent of those in military families disagree.

57 percent of Democrats favor withdrawal, while 24 percent favor staying the course. 71 percent of Republicans are for finishing the job, while 20 percent disagree.

It Already Feels Like a Campaign

Time magazine looks at the apparent friendship between John McCain and Hillary Clinton. They have appeared together at events in the last several weeks including movie premiers and environmental tours of Alaska. Time’s Karen Tumulty finds:

Should McCain and Clinton each decide to make a bid--and most people around them expect it--both would become their party's instant front runner, which is not an entirely good thing. In an open field without an incumbent President or Vice President, as both parties will have for the first time in more than a half-century, it's perilous to be the one upon whom everyone else is training fire. McCain and Clinton would be running against not only a crop of other party rivals but also the perceptions and expectations that voters already have of them. "The other people running for President get to introduce themselves," says Illinois Congressman Rahm Emanuel, who worked as a top aide in the Clinton White House. "That's not true for her, and that's not true for McCain."

By the way, I’ll still be posting my regular morning news update and then will be heading back to the protest site to bring your further reports from Crawford throughout the day.

While the protesters appeared to be in good spirits, most of the actual Crawford residential neighbors did not. The entire strip of road opposite the protest site is home to several families who live in the area even when it’s not a hot, international media event. Police tape and homemade signs asking visitors to not park on their property surround their front lawns. Most had signs posted in their yards declaring their support for President Bush and the troops. They should be applauded for standing up to their unwelcome visitors.

However, as much as we may disagree with the protesters, they do have a legal right to do what they are doing. Likewise, Crawford residents have every right to be annoyed at their presence and to express their views. The challenge is ensuring that both sides play by the rules and obey the law.

As I made my way along the road adjacent to the protest site I noticed several protesters defiantly walking in the middle of the road, holding up local traffic. Most commuters were exceedingly polite and simply drove around the arrogant and careless pedestrians. However, one woman driving in a large truck had other ideas. She came flying down the road at a speed well in excess of the local limit blaring her car horn. The irony is she chose to stop and chastise me, someone who was standing off the road and is sympathetic to her frustration. She screamed at me, “I’m calling 9-1-1!” Before I could utter a response she was flying down the road again. What came next was much worse.

One of the so-called “Peace Shuttles” was driving in the opposite direction, bussing protesters to and from the main site. In a reckless fit of anger, the woman driving the truck actually swerved at the Peace Shuttle, nearly driving it off the road. This may sound amusing to some, but to actually be there and see it in person, revealed just how dangerous and stupid it was. My companion and I followed the woman down the road for a bit. Unfortunately, she was driving at speeds close to 80 mph on a dirt road with a suggested speed limit of 25mph. She must have been in a hurry to call 9-1-1.

My concern in all of this is that someone is going to get hurt. We’ve already had gunshots fired and protest sites vandalized. I don’t like the protesters, but resorting to violence is wrong and will only create sympathy for their cause. Hopefully I’m overreacting and the week will go by safely.

Mike Allen of the Washington Post has his own take from the protest sites:

Camp Casey, which started with one mom and a grievance, mushroomed over the weekend into a massive settlement with a party tent for 2,000, a shuttle-bus service and an elaborate catering operation that deposited a 26-foot-long refrigerator truck, generators, and restaurant-quality ranges and warming ovens in a field next to President Bush's ranch.


The hippie crowd that originally was drawn to Cindy Sheehan's protest is still in town -- activists from Food Not Bombs are sleeping in an old school bus that has been painted sky blue and can be started only with jumper cables. But now they have been joined by liberals from throughout the West who are double-parking their hybrid-fueled cars to take part in a peace protest with a budget that is $120,000 and rising.

I arrived last night in Waco, Texas. I’m staying about half an hour outside Crawford, where anti-war protesters have gathered and remain even in absence of Cindy Sheehan. I made the drive out to the first protest site, where Sheehan’s old tent remains in a ditch, as did several dozen protesters.

What surprised me, and what has received almost no coverage, where the counter-protesters gathered across the street in support of U.S. troops and President Bush.

I continued down the dusty road several miles before arriving at the new, main protest site. What I saw there was a sight to behold. The protesters have erected giant tents that stand several stories high. Inside were hundreds of protesters gathered around a stage where organizers were preparing to give a speech and a band off-stage was preparing to play music:


Alongside the road, dozens of cars were lined-up making the already narrow path more difficult to traverse. It was obvious anti-Bush protesters had truly come from across the nation to attend. I saw plates from New York, Florida, Washington State, Indiana, Colorado, New Mexico, Maine, Maryland, California and others.


As I drove slowly along the roadside taking pictures, one protester beckoned, “Why don’t you come inside, we have food?” Even as they walked past several hundred miniature erected gravesites for fallen soldiers, most protesters seemed in a jovial mood. Their campsite is erected quite literally next to the secret service checkpoint that leads up a road approximately one mile from President Bush’s ranch.

Allen Says This is "Crucial Time" for Iraq

George Allen also appeared on “This Week” and disagreed with Chuck Hagel’s assessment of Iraq, "I think this is a very crucial time for the future of Iraq. The terrorists don't have anything to win the hearts and minds of the people of Iraq. All they care to do is disrupt."

Hagel Says Iraq Becoming Like Vietnam

Chuck Hagel told ABC’s “This Week” that Iraq is starting to look like another Vietnam. He also rejected the idea that U.S. troops should remain in Iraq for several years:

We should start figuring out how we get out of there. But with this understanding, we cannot leave a vacuum that further destabilizes the Middle East. I think our involvement there has destabilized the Middle East. And the longer we stay there; I think the further destabilization will occur.