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The Mudville Gazette is written and produced by Greyhawk, the call sign of a real military guy currently serving somewhere in Iraq. Unless otherwise credited, the opinions expressed are those of the author, and nothing here is to be taken as representing the official position of or endorsement by the United States Department of Defense or any of its subordinate components. Furthermore, I will occasionally use satire or parody herein. The bottom line: it's my house.

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Greetings! You are reading an article from The Mudville Gazette. To reach the front page, with all the latest news and views, click the logo above or "main" below. Thanks for stopping by!
« Sasha Cohen, Soldier's Angel | Main | The Blast from Iraq »

February 23, 2006

The Circus is Coming to Town

Greyhawk

Cindy Sheehan wants to bring her protest to the wounded at Landstuhl. This is the front page, banner headline story in today's Stars and Stripes:

On March 11, protesters plan to walk from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center to a parking lot just outside Ramstein Air Base, where Sheehan will be at a “camp,” paying tribute to those who have died in the Iraq war.

cindysns.jpg“Cindy will be with us at Camp Casey Landstuhl/Ramstein to call attention to the fact that Germany is Europe’s logistical hub for the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and others threatening Iran and the Middle East,” according to an event flier. “Germany has the power to stop the further use of U.S. bases in Germany for illegal wars and criminal methods of warfare — the power and the right to just say no!”

Organizers are hoping to erect the camp — known as Camp Casey for Sheehan’s son — in a parking lot outside Ramstein Air Base’s west gate. The parking lot is under German jurisdiction, said Erin Zagursky, an Air Force spokeswoman at the base. Protest organizers are meeting with city officials in Ramstein and Landstuhl to gain permission for their event.

Sheehan’s goals are to bring the troops home and have peace on earth, she said in an e-mail to Stars and Stripes.

Her son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, 24, was killed in Iraq on April 4, 2004. Sheehan said in an e-mail she was too busy for a phone interview with Stars and Stripes.

“I don’t know anything about the visit,” she wrote. “It is being arranged by some people in Germany.”

With the Kaiserslautern military community home to more than 50,000 Americans with military ties, Sheehan could face a rough welcome. When asked for comment Wednesday on Sheehan’s upcoming visit, several soldiers in Kaiserslautern asked if they could be quoted anonymously.

One soldier, who recently returned from Iraq, did give his name but didn’t have much to say about Sheehan.

“Anything I would have to say about her, you couldn’t print,” Army Staff Sgt. Mark Genthner said.

Until today I never heard anyone at work even discuss this woman. Today I heard a lot of unprintable comments. The area they're hoping to use to set up Camp Lookatmeimontv is a very heavily trafficked road - cars will be virtually parked there in the heavy morning "rush" inbound to the gates at Ramstein. If Cindy's handlers get their wish they'll learn a lot about what the troops think of them.

On another note, "protesters plan to walk from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center to a parking lot just outside Ramstein Air Base". Just a thought, Landstuhl is on top of a hill, a few hundred feet higher in elevation then Ramstein. The downhill-only march is very indicative of the actual dedication and energy of this group.

Update: Much discussion in comments about counter-demonstrations. Truth is, most likely if this event comes to pass military members and families will be told to avoid any demonstrations or confrontations - this isn't the first such event here.

The entry road to Ramstein is secluded, and traveled only by those coming to or from the base. If Sheehan and company get permission to "camp" there that gate will likely be closed for the duration, with traffic diverted to other entrances. These measures are taken specifically to avoid any potential conflict. Their little party will go on without anyone to witness.

Except for reporters, that is.

And I doubt Cindy and Co. will be allowed to pass through the Landstuhl gate - and the wounded and their families will not see them, as both of the Fisher Houses and the hospital itself are not in view.

Make no mistake about it; this is a media event, not one for the troops. For those of you not covered by the UCMJ who might be considering arranging a counter demonstration, I urge you to follow the example of Citizen Smash and have a support the troops rally, not an anti-Cindy event.

Even better, you can join Soldier's Angels Germany, and support the troops even after Cindy goes home.

Posted by Greyhawk at 05:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (20) |