UNITED STATES: Pentagon turns away grieving relatives

On January 26, Pentagon police turned away five "Gold Star" families (those who have a relative killed in Iraq) who wanted to confront Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld about the reasons for the war in Iraq. Police said the group, which did not have an appointment, was a security risk. A Military Families Speak Out representative with the group said that they had been petitioning for a meeting for weeks, but had been ignored. Stars and Stripes reported that Cindy Sheehan, whose son Casey was killed in Sadr City, sheltered a photo of Casey from the snow with her arms as the group argued with police. "I wanted them to see my son", she said weeping. "I have a feeling he was a dispensable asset to them."

From Green Left Weekly, February 2, 2005.

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From GLW issue 613