Iraq war protestor says to shift focus to Congress
26 Aug 2005 19:39:53 GMT
Source: Reuters
By Jeremy Pelofsky
CRAWFORD, Texas, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Iraq war protester Cindy Sheehan, whose vigil near President George W. Bush's Texas ranch has become a symbol for the anti-war movement, said on Friday she plans to focus on Congress, starting with Bush close ally and fellow Texan House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.
Sheehan has been demanding a meeting with Bush to discuss the U.S. presence in Iraq, where her son was killed in 2004, and next Thursday plans to begin a bus tour from Bush's ranch to the White House to campaign for withdrawal of U.S. troops.
One of DeLay's Texas district offices would likely be the first stop, she said. That would be about a 5.5 hour drive from Bush's ranch in Crawford, where he is on a month-long vacation.
"I think our first stop might be Tom DeLay's office," she said, surrounded by supporters. "I just wanted to let him know so he'll be in his office when we get there."
"The president is not going to meet with us, probably," Sheehan said. "We the people need to influence our congressional representatives and I hear he's pretty close by," referring to DeLay.
A spokeswoman for DeLay said his schedule was already set and did not plan to change it to meet with Sheehan.
"Mr. DeLay disagrees with those who believe we should give the terrorists the timeline they want and simply cut and run from the war in Iraq," DeLay spokeswoman Shannon Flaherty said.
Sheehan met once with Bush after her son was killed but has sought a second meeting to explain for what "noble cause" her 24-year-old son, Casey, died. Almost 1,900 U.S. troops have died in the conflict.
Bush has said he sympathizes with Sheehan as well as the families of all the soldiers who have died. But he has staunchly defended his actions in Iraq and has said leaving now would lead to greater dangers for the United States and Iraq.
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