Families to Confront Bush on Use of Guard

[Khephra]

When President Bush arrives in Las Vegas today to address a convention of National Guardsmen, a group of families will be there as well, intent on protesting the Iraq war and a president who they say used his Guard service to avoid combat.

The protest comes a week after a controversial report on "60 Minutes II" that renewed questions about Bush's National Guard record during the Vietnam era.

The demonstrators said they were not supporters of Sen. John F. Kerry, the Democratic presidential candidate, but were trying to look after the interests of the country's guardsmen.

"We think the real issue now is the Iraq war, it's not the Vietnam War," said Charley Richardson, co-founder of Military Families Speak Out, which organized the protest. "But we can't help notice the irony that a person who managed to avoid going to combat by joining the National Guard is now sending the National Guard into combat in a war based on lies."

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/whitehouse/la-na-guard14sep14,1,5164989.story?coll=la-news-politics-white_house

[alittlelark]

1. But, But.... if they don't sign the 'Loyalty oath'

they won't get in!!!! They know * is to blame, therefore they will not be allowed in.

(Freeper head explodes on reading this)

[BlueCollar]

2. The "Free Speech Zone" for today's Vegas trip

is Reno, Nevada

[Hoodwinked]

3. Do you think......

if they request a transfer to "work on a campaign" they will be able to come home?

Good for the goose....good for the gander.

[newyawker99]

5. Hi Hoodwinked!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[struggle4progress]

4. <snip> A group called Military Families Speak Out organized a protest ...

... next door to the convention center, with several families of Guard members making statements opposing what the group's statement called "a war based on lies." <snip>
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/election2004/story/7DFD7782A60F57D486256F10001681B8?OpenDocument&Headline=Bush+questions+Kerry's+commitment+to+Iraq+war

<snip> Outside the Las Vegas Convention Center, protesters from a Boston-based nonprofit group called Military Families Speak Out criticized Bush administration policies in Iraq, saying guardsmen have borne the brunt of poor planning by the administration.Their voices cracking with emotion at times, members of the group told of communities that have held fundraisers to buy equipment for local guardsman before their overseas deployment. That equipment -- walkie-talkies, body armor, global positioning units -- is often unavailable to guardsmen in Iraq, they said. They told of families who are suffering financially because they were not prepared for, or warned about, tours of duty that can now last 18 months or more. <snip>
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/2004/la-na-bush15sep15,1,7993141.story?coll=la-home-headlines

<snip> As the president spoke, a few hundred protesters held court outside the convention center and in a hotel down the street, accusing Bush of overstraining the Guard by activating part-time soldiers for 16 months or more. The protesters included a dozen with Military Families Speak Out, an anti-war group of service members' relatives. <snip>
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/special_packages/election2004/9664039.htm


Military Families Criticize Bush 'War Lies' Before Vegas Visit

<snip> "Our message is simple. Bring them home now," said Adele Kubein, of Corvallis, Ore., whose daughter returned from Iraq earlier this year after being injured in combat during her deployment with the Oregon National Guard. "Our loved ones are being sacrificed needlessly." <snip>

The families told of having to buy walkie-talkies and global positioning satellite devices for their loved ones serving in Iraq.

"(Bush) did not give them training and equipment. He has never given them a good reason why they are fighting and dying for him," said Karma Kumlin, of Maplewood, Minn., whose husband is deployed with the Minnesota National Guard. <snip>

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/news/ELECTION2004/091404_BUSH.html