Bush refuses to attend military funerals, bans media from reporting.

[Copperred]

This issue alone could turn the entire country, his brainwashed legions and others against him... Come November...make sure the public knows this loud and clear.... His inaction speaks a novel about who and what he is....
-----------------------------------

Callousness: Exhibit 1
President Bush exhibits some unexplained callousness when confronted with the soldier casualties; the likely reason for this may be that he is empathy-impaired. He has not attended ANY soldier funerals, and he has not visited ANY wounded soldiers in the hospital – so much for “supporting our troops”. It is also clear that the White House is doing its best to hide the statistics or references to the soldier casualties. The wounded soldiers are flown in at night, and journalists are barred from reporting on the arrival of coffins, or their burial. Again, mention of the casualties is bad for the justification of the continuation of the occupation of Iraq, and it is bad for politics during an election year.

http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Jan04/DeRooij0124.htm

[sendero]

1. By exactly what authority...

... can Bush* "bar" any reporter from reporting on anything?

[ixion]

3. they claim

reporting these events gives 'aid and comfort' to the enemy -- vis a vis Ann 'the man' Coulter. :eyes:

[Ruti]

7. we know that is

absolute bullshit!

Where are the Woodwards and Bernsteins? This is outrageous.

I do recall Clark being asked and responding in NH to this. Something about Smirk's photo op w/the holiday turkey and on the aircraft carrier, but this abrogation of the 1st amendment should call for something!

[indepat]

25. Any thing they don't like gives "aid and comfort" to the enemy: they have

assumed a "no-lose" position and given any opposition/dissent a "no-win" position. Incidentally, isn't this the way totalitarian regimes have always operated?

[Pegleg Thd]

4. Such actions only go to prove

that he is a psychopath with no hope of redemption.

[saigon68]

19. ROVE doesn't want to upset the SHEEP

As long as Kobe, Michael and Scott Peterson are in the forefront, the lobotomized electorate doesn't give a shit about a few "non-hostile" deaths

(remember 45,000 of our fellow citizens of Amerika get smoked on the highways every year)

What they don't want is some "NEW" Gold Star Mother or Father calling the CHIMPANZEE a murderer on National TV.

I can't imagine anyone in the service believing they are fighting for "Freedom"

[loudnclear]

37. How can the media be banned from covering anything? Especially the

military...and dead soldiers at that. Is this worse than Stalinist Russia or Hitler's Germany?

[Copperred]

2. If your not related to Bush, he's not coming to your funeral....

and more :

Meanwhile, in Iraq today, soldiers and Marines are fighting and dying. And surely they have noticed that this White House doesn't want Iraq-related funerals to be televised. Such a news blackout might indeed be good stateside politics, but perhaps this public relations-conscious cloaking is bad for morale on the warfront. That's a question for today, but the answer will come soon enough, because those men and women will soon come home - to run, to win and to hold elective office. Their hearts, too, have been touched with fire, and some future snowy primary election will be emblazed and ennobled by their war-witnessed presence.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/politics/ny-vppin253640172jan25,0,2976864.story?coll=ny-lipolitics-print

[Tracer]

5. Untrue.

SmirkBoy has had at least two photo-ops with hospitalized soldiers.

[RedSock]

12. any links?

"at least two photo-ops with hospitalized soldiers"

links?

also, even if true, soldiers in hospitals does not = funerals

[JoFerret]

36. Use google search words

Bush Walter Reed wounded visit.
(Using Chimp instead of Bush does not work.)

http://www.ljworld.com/section/citynews/story/157768

Look - the issue is not how many visits he makes or funerals he attends. Or doesn't. the issue is that he lied to the world about the war. yes - he may be empathy impaired and etc. but clueing in the handlers just means that will be fixed for more sickening exploitative photo-ops. let's all steer clear of the cynicism. Bush is an impaired human being. but his operatives are smart and manipulative. look for some VERY big empathy events in an election campaign near you soon.

[alcuno]

14. Once he was there to get a check up on his knees and he looked in on

some of the wounded. I'm sure he'd call it multi-tasking and it shows complete disdain for these people; that they are not worthy of his undivided attention.

[JoFerret]

33. Yes. He did go to

Walter Reed and pin on some Purple Hearts and have his pic taken.

[Mari333]

6. Please demand that C Span cover THIS!

and let everyone in the media know ITS HAPPENING: These kinds of actions are a nail in the coffin for the GOP.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Military Families,

On March 14 and 15, Military Families Speak Out, Veterans for Peace and a number of other organizations are sponsoring a Dover (Air Force Base) to D.C. Memorial Procession: A trail of mourning and truth to honor those killed and wounded in Iraq.

The attached flyer (also included below) describes the parts of this event, including its families are allowed to be present; a 3.5 mile march to a spot near the Air Force Base; a bus/car caravan through Baltimore; an overnight in Washington D.C.; an event on Monday, March 15 at Walter Reed Memorial Hospital to remember the wounded; and a finale at the White House. This event will focus on the toll the war in Iraq is taken, a toll this administration is doing everything it can to hide and we must do what we can to uncover for all to see and understand.

MFSO members can participate in for any or all segments of the march - on Sunday, March 14; Monday, March 15; or both. When the procession reaches the White House, some participants are planning on engaging in non-violent civil disobedience. The rest of the marchers will stay in the legally-sanctioned perimeters of the demonstration/march.

We would like to find out how many of you might be interested in participating in any part of this event. Please review the attached flyer and email us with any questions you may have, and let us know if you are interested in participating.

This event is occuring the weekend before many regional and local marches, rallies and demonstrations to commemorate the one year anniversary of the beginning of the invasion of Iraq. We are beginning to hear from MFSO members about their plans to participate in events in their areas.

Please keep us posted on events in your areas, so we can share information with other military families who may live nearby.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

In Peace and Solidarity,
Nancy Lessin and Charley Richardson,
for Military Families Speak Out
email: [e-mail]
www.mfso.org
www.bringthemhomenow.org



On the first anniversary of the continuing war in Iraq...


Dover to D.C. Memorial Procession

A trail of mourning and truth to honor those beginnings on Sunday March 14 near Dover, where the caskets come in but no press or

killed and wounded in Iraq, with legal processions to be followed by nonviolent direct action at the White House

Sunday, March 14 - Monday, March 15, 2004



Starting at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, where the war dead arrive, this memorial procession will honor our fallen brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, wives, husbands, mothers, fathers and friends, along with Iraqi civilians and the increasing number of people from other countries who have been killed and wounded in Iraq, while delivering our call to end the violence to the nation’s capital.



Sunday, March 14 - Gather at Camden Friends Meetinghouse in Dover at 12:30pm, for a brief service followed by a memorial procession to the gates of Dover Air Force Base. Following a ceremony at the base, a caravan will proceed to a rally in Baltimore, Maryland, and then on to Washington DC.

Monday, March 15 - Gathering and observances at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, DC, current residence of many U.S. servicemen and women wounded in Iraq, followed by memorial procession to White House. At the White House, those so moved will deliver our memorial message and call to the end the war to the Bush Administration, risking arrest in an act of nonviolent civil disobedience if necessary.



Please plan to join us on March 14 and 15, to honor those killed and wounded in Iraq, and to say no to war.



For more information and to get involved, go to www.peacepledge.org/resist, or call:



American Friends Service Committee (Baltimore) at 410-323-7200

Brandywine Peace Community (Philadelphia) at 610-544-1818

Pacem in Terris (Delaware) at 302-656-2721

Iraq Pledge of Resistance (Washington, DC) at 301-589-2355



Sponsored by (list in formation): American Friends Service Committee, Baltimore Pledge of Resistance, Brandywine Peace Community, Iraq Pledge of Resistance, Military Families Speak Out, Pacem in Terris, Peace Action, Student Peace Action Network, Veterans For Peace

[Ruti]

8. Thank you.

I will send this to my list of email contacts and will email directly myself.

[salinen]

9. I find it interesting that reporters and

so called journalists defends chimps every move. What's in it for them? My theory is they get what all hush men get, $. The thugs are printing the stuff so it's easy to do.

[Ruti]

11. Well, let's see

GE owns NBC, MSNBC and on down the corporate media list.

What upsets me is that I almost became a journalist and I swear I never would work for these people. I would be Tammy Paine and publish "Common Sense" by Walden Pond. oops, tend to wander off...

[Toots]

10. He didn't even go see the returned Americans when China

Captured our spy plane. Bush* gave in to the Chinese and did everything they wanted and when our guys came home Bush* ignored them. :shrug: He was trying hard to be the Un-Clinton. He knew Clinton would have been right there to greet them and comfort them. Bush* was AWOL once more and still is.

[alfredo]

13. He did photo op some wounded on his way to a fund raiser.

but he never really spent time to comfort them. The object was the photos, not the soldiers.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

22. He went to Baghdad on Thanksgiving, too...

...and the turkey he was holding was fake. How do we know the soldiers he allegedly talked with were actually wounded?

Remember what we're dealing with...the NeoCons will do and say anything to make themselves look good.

[koopie57]

15. Bush is

such a poor excuse of a man that it might be a good thing for him to not attend the funerals. I say this, cuz in all seriousness, I don't think he could keep from giggling at the mourners. He seems to get off on this.

I would like to see all the democratic candidates as a group go to one of these funerals, or break up in groups of two and three and go to several funerals. I think those who had the ugly words for one another should go in as a pair. It would force the stations to make a hard choice, it would be good ammu for the debates against bush and most important of all, it would be a very decent thing to do.

[Cooley Hurd]

17. I agree - they should go in groups of 2 or more...

That way, it looks less like political opportunism (especially now, given the ongoing rancor between the candidates) and more like a sincere, compassionate act.

Of course, it would offer a stark contrast to Bush and his utter lack of empathy for anyone who doesn't own an oil well...

More and more, I'm beginning to think that our best weapon against Bush this November will be his character - more so than any other issue on the table. The lies, of a magnitude and consequence unparalleled by a president of this or the last century, need to be THE issue! They did it to Gore in 2000 and, admittedly, it cost him votes. But the lies told by Shrub have cost lives. If that's not an issue, then I don't know what is...

[calimary]

18. Hot Diggity-Dog, that's a FABULOUS IDEA!!!

They should attend the funerals. They all should. Wonder if Holy Joe would go.

[donsu]

16. could the dems running for prez visit the wounded at Walter Reed?

nt

[JoFerret]

34. They are not political campaign props

..we know how cynical this all gets. Let's ask Max Cleland for his view.

[DS1]

20. He has visited wounded troops

Selected ones, but it has been done.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

21. Links, please.

[DS1]

23. nothing google can't handle in oh, .00003 seconds

Do people even try anymore?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3522153,00.html

http://www.dcmilitary.com/army/pentagram/8_03/national_news/21283-1.html

http://www.greenberet.net/posted-stuff/2003/Feb/Presidential_Visit.html

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/12/18/bush/



Now, granted, he was in the hospital anyway to have his knees looked at, but the article posted is simply false on this matter.

[Gin]

24. Sociopaths do not feel....No conscience.

gin

[Media_Lies_Daily]

26. That's one out of roughly how many wounded?

[mantis49]

27. Local media

There has been coverage of local funerals for soldiers by our local TV stations here in western IL. They are NBC and CBS affiliates, but the local studios apparently aren't controlled by NY.

Also, our local public radio station interviewed the mother of a dead soldier. She was quite outspoken in her condemnation of the war and Bush. Then another member of her family apologized for her because she was "distraught" and "didn't realize what she was saying."

Yeah, right.

[Emillereid]

28. There's at least six more funerals that * will not attend

6 G.I.'s Are Killed in a Wave of Violence


By JOHN H. CUSHMAN Jr. and EDWARD WONG

Published: January 25, 2004



AGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 24 — Insurgents in Iraq killed or wounded scores of people in several attacks on Saturday, including two American soldiers who were killed by a makeshift bomb on a road near Falluja and three more who died in a truck-bomb attack in Khaldiya, military officials said.

On Sunday, a sixth American soldier was killed in the town of Bayji, about 70 miles north of Baghdad, after insurgents attack a military patrol at 10 p.m. on Saturday, said a spokesman for the Fourth Infantry Division, which controls the area. The attacks hit a Bradley fighting vehicle with a rocket-propelled grenade, critically wounding a soldier inside. The soldier died early Sunday morning.

Bayji has the largest oil refinery in Iraq and lies inside the so-called Sunni triangle, where guerilla fighters continue to mount ambitious and deadly attacks against American-led forces.

Another bomb went off near the city council building in Samarra, killing four Iraqi civilians and wounding 33 badly enough that they required treatment at the local hospital, the officials said. In that attack, which occurred just after American soldiers passed the spot in their vehicles, three soldiers were hurt.....more....

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/25/international/middleeast/25IRAQ.html?pagewanted=all

Now if I understand the Bushits, all this death and destruction is evidence that we're winning?

[TryingToWarnYou]

29. Be careful what these sites say....

Bush has indeed visited wounded troops in the hospitals. He has personally handed out Purple Hearts for photo ops.

[pacifictiger]

30. I notice Jessica Lynch

has been dropped like a hot potato after she disputed the official story.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

32. The key phrase is "photo ops". Junior has no feeling whatsoever...

...for the troops that have been killed or wounded fighting because of his lies.

[Cronus Protagonist]

31. * has visited wounded in hospital

No need to add lies to truth.... that kind of taints the message a lot when there's plenty of pictures around of Bush visiting wounded. Here's just one...

&imgrefurl=http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/01/images/20030117-8_p25788-27-515h.html&hl=en&h=343&w=515&prev=/images%3Fq%3DBush%2Bwounded%26svnum%3D20%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DG">President Bush Meets with Wounded Soldiers at Medical Center



"FUCK Bush" Buttons, Stickers & Magnets

[loudnclear]

38. In the Guardian story Bush was actually there to visit Powell

and stopped by to see the wounded, also was to give a speech during this visit.

[scarface2004]

35. karl rove says no coverage...

no funerals, no nothing. bush meekly says, 'ok karl, whatever you say'