Cindy Sheehan, the woman whose vigil outside President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas has brought her worldwide attention and has galvanized opposition to the American war in Iraq, has returned to Texas after spending six days in California to help care for her ailing mother. Sheehan's mother had suffered a stroke.
'This is where I belong, until August 31, like I told the president,' Sheehan announced upon her return.
Sheehan has sought an audience with President Bush to have him explain his reasoning for invading Iraq. Sheehan's oldest son, 24-year-old Casey Sheehan, was killed in Iraq. She has wanted to ask Mr. Bush for what 'noble cause' her son died.
'Even when I was in California, half of me was always here,' Sheehan explained to the Associated Press late Wednesday. 'I felt like since I started it, I should be here.'
Sheehan began her vigil on August 6. She is determined to remain in Crawford while the president continuous his five-week long vacation at his ranch.
Those still supporting President Bush in the war in Iraq have grown angry and even violent towards Sheehan and her fellow protesters. One neighbor of the president's fired a gun in the air as his own way to disturb 'Camp Casey' as the area Sheehan is camping out while she continues her vigil has been dubbed.
Another Bush supporter intentionally knocked over makeshift crosses that were erected by protesters with the names of some of the more than 1,840 Americans killed in Iraq.
Sheehan has also received plenty of support from across the country.
Former Ambassador Joseph Wilson recently spoke out on behalf of Ms. Sheehan. Wilson released a statement saying, 'The Bush White House and its right-wing allies are responding to Cindy Sheehan and the military families' vigil in central Texas in the same way that they always respond to bad news — by unleashing personal attacks and smears against her.'
Mr. Bush returned to Crawford later Wednesday after making two speeches in support of the ongoing war this week; one to a group of veterans in Utah and another to National Guard soldiers in Idaho. He continues to refuse to speak to Ms. Sheehan.
The president did meet with Cindy Sheehan shortly after her son's death but new evidence showing faulty intelligence leading up to the war and the president's constantly changing 'justifications' for the war have led her to demand an explanation from the man who sent her son and so many others off to fight a war from which they never returned.
