OATH OF ENLISTMENT

Perhaps Cindy Sheehan should have a look at the Oath of Enlistment that her son, Casey took - not once - but twice ...

I, ___________________________________, do solemly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic;

Ms. Sheehan - the tyranical, murderous Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein was deemed an "enemy" of the United States, not just by President Bush - but by the United States Congress - INCLUDING - the Democratic Presidential nominee in the last election - John Kerry. George Bush wasn't the only one "duped" into believing Saddam had WMD's - the U.S. Congress was also. We were all "duped" by intelligence - which Bush himself did not gather - that said Saddam had WMD's. But probably the MAIN THING that duped us was the behavior of Saddam himself when he refused to obey UN resolutions for over a decade. Saddam was like a man holding a pistol and pointing it at your head - sure, the pistol might not be loaded - but how can you tell? Are you willing to take the chance? Ms. Sheehan, please stop LYING about George Bush being the ONLY one responsible for our presence in Iraq.

The Oath continues ...

...that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

Ms Sheehan, your son understood these words - do you? "True Faith" and "Allegiance" means having unquestioned FAITH and LOYALTY to this country. This means FAITH and LOYALTY to the decision making institutions in this country. Your son Casey had this - do you? The current Commander In Chief of the armed forces of this nation was duly elected by a majority of the people of this country - as were the representatives in Congress who authorized this action in Iraq. The majority of the PEOPLE elected this President and the Congress. And the majority of the Congress and this President authorized this action in the name of promoting the foriegn policy of the U.S. Government. Is it too much to ask that you, yourself, display a little faith and loyalty in the U.S. Government?

Using extortion tactics to effect a change that you desire in U.S. foreign policy is not in accordance with the Democratic philosophy that we follow in this country. Freedom of speech is a right - but it must be exercised with responsibility.

It is not responsible when you say that George Bush lied to the American public about Saddam's WMD's. As stated above - intelligence and the behavior of the Iraqi regime gave a strong indication that Iraq had WMD's. Congress evaluated this same intelligence and AGREED with President Bush that Iraq had WMD's. Congress also authorized the President to take action.

It is not responsible for you to say that George Bush lied about a contact between Iraq and Al Qaeda. First of all, how do you know that there was no such contact? Is it because the now-discredited 9-11 commission said there was no such contact between the two? Over the coming month we will see just how flawed this commission was in carrying out it's duties. If there was no connection between Saddam and Al Qaeda - why then did Al Qaeda come so quickly to Saddam's rescue after U.S. forces invaded Iraq? Why is it that the majority of Al Qaeda that we are killing today are being killed in Iraq and Afghanistan?

It is not responsibe for you to say that George Bush killed your son. As stated above, we have government based on "checks and balances" in this country and the Congress authorized this action too. This is the way a REPUBLIC works Ms Sheehan. Policy is settled at the ballot box - not in the streets, and certainly not by 100 radicals camping out in Crawford, Texas.

It is not responsible for you LIE about your first meeting with the President after your son's death. You have given two completely different characterizations of that meeting - which one are we to believe? Do you feel comfortable insisting that the President "lied" about the war while you tell your own "lies". Do you believe that telling such lies is an acceptable way to force this country to accept your views of this war?

It is clear to the majority of us that your brave son, Casey, understood the oath of enlistment that he took not once, but twice - each time voluntarily. The last time he took it with full knowledge that he would be deploying to Iraq to help fight the war. Casey was good was this - why can't you accept this fact?

Ms Sheehan - where was your voice when U.S. troops were sent to Kosovo - another country that we took military action in even though it did not attack us and did not possess WMD's? Why do you now align yourself with those who supported that action - but do not support the war in Iraq because it occurred under a duly elected Republican President? Why are you allowing your brave son's death to be politicized in this fashion?

I know that Ms Sheehan has a list of questions for President Bush - I, for one, have my own questions for Ms Sheehan. I doubt she will answer them though.