OPINION / t r u t h o u t - Cindy Sheehan | Address to Veterans For Peace Convention

ORIGINAL URL: http://truthout.org/cindy.shtml

t r u t h o u t | One Mother's Stand
It Was the Oil, Stupid
By Cindy Sheehan

Wednesday 31 August 2005
10:36 AM

The Peaceful Occupation of Crawford:

"If Zarqawi and bin Laden gain control of Iraq, they would create a new training ground for future terrorist
attacks, Bush said. They'd seize oil fields to fund their ambitions. They could recruit more terrorists by claiming a
historic victory over the United States and our coalition."(George Bush, August 30, 2005 in San Diego.)

So it is official, Casey had his blood shed in Iraq for OIL. He died so we could pay over 3.00/gallon for gas. Like
I suspected all along, my dear, sweet son: almost 1900 others; and tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis died so the oil
fields wouldn't "fall into the hands of terrorists" and so George and his immoral band of greedy robber barons could
become wealthier. Like I have said all along: how can these people sleep at night and how can they choke down their
food knowing it is purchased off of the flesh and blood of others? We have found our "Noble Cause." And it is OIL. This
man and his handlers need to be stopped.

Well, George and I are leaving Crawford today. George is finished playing golf and telling his fables in San Diego
, so he will be heading to Louisiana to see the devastation that his environmental policies and his killing policies
have caused. Recovery would be easier and much quicker if almost ½ of the three states involved National Guard were not
in Iraq. All of the National Guard's equipment is in Iraq also. Plus, with the 2 billion dollars a week that the
private contractors are siphoning from our treasury, how are we going to pay for helping our own citizens in Louisiana,
Mississippi, and Alabama? And, should I dare say "global warming?" and be branded as a "conspiracy theorist" on top of
everything else the reich-wingers say about me.

We are now packing up Camp Casey and leaving Crawford and heading to George's place of employment. He wouldn't talk
to us, his employers, while we were here to give him his "job evaluation," so we must go to him to have our little
chat.

I just want to thank a few people and groups for their support, help, and love while we have been here in Crawford.
So many people made the Camp Casey experience possible and so successful. If I miss someone, I am so sorry: that is the
difficult thing about thanking people. I love you all, even if I don't remember to thank you!!

My sister: Dede Miller: My kids' second mom who is always by my side and supports me 100% in whatever I do. My
cause is her cause, and I couldn't do what I do without her.

Carly, Andy, and Janey: Who would love to see more of their mom, but who understand that we are trying to save
their future by what we do. I love you guys, and I will see you very, very soon (yea!!) I couldn't do what I do without
their love and support.

The Crawford Peace House: I got an email from Hadi Jawad the day that I decided to come and camp in Crawford and he
pledged the help and support of the Peace House. At that time, they only had a few bucks in their checking account and
the phone was turned off. Now, thanks to America, they have been able to keep Camp Casey going and they will be able to
continue their good works indefinitely. Thanks to John Wolf who had the vision for peace in Crawford and I think that
Camp Casey was a fulfillment of his vision. They are going to make a garden and call it "The Casey Sheehan Memorial
Peace Garden." What a tribute to my son.

Code Pink: Jodie Evans and Tiffany and Alicia were the first ones here on Monday 08/08 to jump in and save me from
going crazy and hopping on one of the trains that runs past the Peace House and pulling an "Agatha Christie." Code Pink
also worked tirelessly (and I mean tirelessly) outside of Camp Casey.

MoveOn: For organizing the highly successful candlelight vigils.

Lisa Fithian: For all the organizing work she did behind the scenes.

GSFP, IVAW, MFSO, AND VFP: Our organizations with "skin in the game" for all of their support, presence, love, and
help.

Bill Mitchell: Bill's son Mike, was KIA in the same battle as Casey and he was the first GSFP member to come to
Camp Casey and take some of the heat off of me. He found a new love at Camp Casey (one of our miracles) and I am sooo
happy about that. Plus, Bill is one of my most ardent supporters and he just gets in the middle of things, digs in, and
helps wherever. I love him and he and his family will be parts of our family forever.

Fred Mattlage: For donating the amazing piece of land for our use that allowed Camp Casey to expand to include
thousands.

Air America: The Morning Sedition, Randi Rhodes, Mike Malloy, and Laura Flanders. Thank you for your support . Ed
Schultz belongs there, too, although he is not affiliated with Air America Radio. Amy Goodman was here, too!

The bloggers on The Daily Kos (and most bloggers in general): I would read their comments everyday after I posted
my diary and I was always heartened and encouraged by their remarks. After all of the negativity, their positivity gave
me strength to go on. In addition, the first night we were in Crawford, and being harassed by the SS, they were posting
things and getting the word out that we were there alone and defenseless, which may have saved our lives, or saved us
from being injured, or harassed out of there.

So many other people: The Camp Casey volunteers ...literally hundreds. The more than 10,000 people who came through
CC. Ann Wright who kept CC going. Arianna Huffington for her advice and support. Joan Baez who kept CC's spirits alive
while I was in California attending to my sick mother. George Bush for not meeting with me on August 6th. Martin Sheen
for his support and presence. AIM for Dennis Banks and Russell Means. Gary Hart, John Conyers, Maxine Waters, Barbara
Lee, Sheila Jackson Lee, Jan Schakowsky, Dennis Kucinich, Frank Pallone, Lynn Woolsey, Chuck Hagel, Ralph Nader, Jim
McDermott, Walter Jones, Charlie Rangel and the other politicos who either came to CC, or called me to offer their
support and love. I know I am forgetting some, but thanks to you all. Joe Wilson and his family for paving the way for
me to be able to ignore and dismiss the reich-wing smear machine who always tried to marginalize and discredit me by
exaggerating or twisting my words and lying about me. The clergy who were there with their love and support: Rabbi
Arthur Waskow, Rabbi Dennis Shulman; Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Bob Edgars, Rev. Jesse Jackson (who prayed bed time prayers
with me), Rita Brock, etc.

There were so many good people who donated money, goods, or services who want to be kept anonymous.

But especially to Americans who resonated with Camp Casey and gave us prayers, support, money, love and most of all
hope for the future.

We will take our country back. And it will be a country that we want back.

God Bless America!!!!