Cindy Sheehan, Day Ten at “Camp Casey,” Crawford, Texas

(as reported August 15, 2005, by Amy Goodman on “Democracy Now”)

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In Crawford, Texas, Cindy Sheehan has begun Day Ten of her vigil outside President Bush’s vacation ranch. Sheehan has vowed to remain in Crawford until the president meets with her [and if necessary, to follow him back to Washington, D.C., after August, when his vacation ends]. Last year, on April 4, 2004, Sheehan’s oldest son, Casey, was KIA (“killed in action”) in Iraq. He was 24 years old. Hundreds of antiwar activists have now joined Sheehan in a protest that has received international attention. “You know, this is really hard. Not only am I, like, trying to stop the war, but I have to grieve my son every day,” Cindy Sheehan said. “Every day I wake up, it’s like April 4 all over again. I have to realize that I have to go on for another day without my son, and it’s really, really hard. And then I do this on top of that.”

On Saturday, Bush defended his decision not to meet with Sheehan. He said, “I think it’s important for me to be thoughtful and sensitive to those who have got something to say. But I think it’s also important for me to go on with my life.” Bush’s comments came before he went on a two-hour bike ride with journalists and aides. In addition, Bush spent Saturday attending a Little League baseball game, having lunch with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, napping, fishing, and reading. On Friday Bush attended a political fundraiser. Tensions are also rising in Crawford. One local property owner fired a gun on his property near the protest site. When asked if he was trying to send a message the man said, “Figure it out for yourself.”