Battle Lines Behind Battle Lines: DC Protest Military Families FlashPoint

[DeepModem Mom]

WP: Battle Lines Behind the Battle Lines
Protest to Make D.C. A Flash Point for Rift Among Military Families

By Petula Dvorak
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 21, 2005; Page B01


....Military families, stoic and tight-lipped during most of the nation's wars, have become a powerful voice on both sides of the bitter argument over U.S. involvement in Iraq. And their growing prominence will add a poignant note to Saturday's antiwar march and rally near the White House.

Organizers of the protest, who anticipate a crowd of about 100,000, estimate that thousands of military families and veterans will join in the demonstration. Three busloads of military families have been touring the country since Aug. 31 and will converge on Washington today to promote Saturday's rally.

In recent weeks, war supporters have been countering those bus stops, rallies and vigils with demonstrations of their own. They've got their own bus touring the country and are planning three days of counter-protests in Washington this weekend.

Both sides embrace the slogan "Support our troops." They just disagree on how to do it. They also were inspired by the same person: Cindy Sheehan, the military mother who lost a son in combat and kept a vigil near President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Tex., through most of August.

Because of Sheehan, "military families across the country are stepping forward to speak out" in support of U.S. policy, said Iowa state Sen. Charles W. Larson Jr., who recently served a year in Iraq with the Army. "You don't normally see people like this do that. They are angry and frustrated, and that is why they have become engaged in the debate."...


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/20/AR2005092001739.html

[preciousdove]

1. Is it true the ProWar folks are all paid to be there? n/t

[ShockediSay]

4. I don't think so. But I do think there's big money

behind their organizers; like the million plus that was paid to the swift boat veterans.

There's the big money (greed being their primary motivation, e.g. contractors and the like who enjoy the tax free freeloading)

and there's the ignorant.... people who are duped by the well funded organizers.

[Vincardog]

2. I am a little bored with this crap. You do NOT have to be a

'Gold Star Family' Or a 'Military family' to oppose George's Imperial War of Aggression'. Everybody has a voice. I was in Crawford. I was he rented crowd show up for the CNN 'News Crew'. The right is more mad a * for high gas prices than his incompetence. They are mad that we may spend some money helping the people of the Gulf Coast. They are not going to show up in any numbers unless they are paid and given a free ticket.

This action was planned before Cindy decided to go to DC. I am glad she is going she is welcome, but it is not about her it is about

ending the Fucking war.

[Vincardog]

3. removed dupe

.