Anti-War Protests Target Wounded at Army Hospital

[Stella_Artois]

Washington (CNSNews.com) - The Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., the current home of hundreds of wounded veterans from the war in Iraq, has been the target of weekly anti-war demonstrations since March. The protesters hold signs that read "Maimed for Lies" and "Enlist here and die for Halliburton."

The anti-war demonstrators, who obtain their protest permits from the Washington, D.C., police department, position themselves directly in front of the main entrance to the Army Medical Center, which is located in northwest D.C., about five miles from the White House. See Video

http://tinyurl.com/dmxrc

This is a huge PR own goal. These people are the Robertson of the left. Hospitals, even Army hospitals, are not an appropriate place to turn into a political battlefield.

The right has been waiting for a "anti-war protestors spit on vets" story and this might be it.

[wakeme2008]

1. A the link will not work (ok link works now...

and be CNS I believe is not an source for LBN but I could be wrong

[meegbear]

4. This has been going on since March ...

and NOW they're reporting on it? Took 'em this long to get to press?

[zanne]

2. Why are you drawing attention to this insanity?

You're just helping them out.

[Stella_Artois]

5. What ?

If I didn't post this on DU, nobody would know about it ?

huh ?

[geckosfeet]

3. Rovian subterfuge. n/t

[KayLaw]

6. For Pete's sake

The demonstraters are "targeting" the wounded? It sounds to me like they're protesting on their behalf. Is it me? Am I crazy?

:shrug:

[ET Awful]

20. My thoughts exactly.

Sorry, but saying why the wounded were wounded and telling others how to avoid the same is NOT targeting the wounded.

[leetrisck]

7. This is a load of * - don't buy it

for a minute. Appeared as a headline on one of those websites - you you the D one.

[maxrandb]

8. CNS is a reich wing whack-nut outfit that makes Fox look ballanced

has no business in Breaking News.

We should have a "Breaking Wind" forum to put shit like this from

-CNS
-Newsmax
-Fox
-NRO
-World Net Daily

and the like into.

[Judi Lynn]

9. Absolutely. Late Breaking Wind. Good one. n/t

[sasha031]

10. They are trying to stop VA from closing

http://www.truthout.org/cindy.shtml


t r u t h o u t | One Mother's Stand
By Scott Galindez

Wednesday 24 August 2005
1:49 PM

50 vets and family members held a spirited rally at the VA Hospital. They chanted, "Mr. President, we support the troops, why don't you!" and "Keep the VA Hospital open."

Cody Camacho of Iraq Veterans Against the War spoke about how he lost his family because his wife didn't know the Cody who came back from Iraq. Our troops need more, not fewer hospitals.

I am heading to the airport now to cover Cindy's return ... Stay tuned

[rodeodance]

19. thanks for this TO link.

[meganmonkey]

11. They are prostesting the CLOSING of VA hospitals

THey are NOT protesting the wounded soldiers.

This is a load of crap spewed by the likes of Drudge and it does not belong in LBN.

[Stella_Artois]

12. Really ?

Crap. I feel bad posting it now. That teaches me, i saw it on a game forum, didn't know it was on drudge.

OK, call me an idiot.

[meganmonkey]

13. Oh, the mods moved it

Yeah, I saw someone link to a drudge headline about this last night. It is very misleading.

I have been berated for unknowingly posting from questionable sources in LBN, so I certainly won't call you an idiot :)

[rodeodance]

14. so, are you saying this is a made up story?

I really want to know.

[meganmonkey]

16. It's not made up completely, it was just reported in a misleading way

They are protesting against the closing of the hospitals, not against the veterans.

AFAIK, the only person who protests veterans is Fred Phelps :P

[rodeodance]

18. I tried to get the video to play on the CNS site to see the signs but

it would not work for me.

[bunkerbuster1]

15. just remember: CNS = CrackerNewsService

makes it easier.

No go and sin no more!

[sasha031]

17. such liars

The original lie came off Drudge, next it will be on the MSM.

[rodeodance]

21. cnn just announced that Walter Reed will be closed -the Base Com-

mission just announced it. Personal will be transferred to
Basheba Military Hospital. Walter Reed was build in 1909 and has over 5000 staff.

[Catchawave]

23. Don't feel bad !

When this was first posted last night, before it was debunked, alot of people were worried about these 'people' protesting the wounded too!

Also a good rule of thumb, for me anyhow, if I'm not familiar with the source, I post the article in General Discussion :hi:

[fasttense]

22. From what I understand

The protesters from Code Pink started outside Walter Reed in March to highlight the fact that the wounded were being brought in at night, under the cover of darkness. Code Pink felt that the wounded should be acknowledged as heroes as well as the dead and should not be sneaked in when no media was looking.

Then the freeper started protesting the protests and they spun it with their sick minds.

This is a list of Code Pinks purpose in its protest

They vigil to:
Shed light on the flow of seriously-wounded soldiers to Walter Reed

Support soldiers in their efforts to achieve adequate lifetime disability payments.

Protest unequal health benefits for injured National Guard soldiers as compared to Active Duty troops

Protest minimizing of numbers of injuries, including mental and PTSD disorders.

Protest FY05 budget cuts in soldiers’ health care (including new fees and higher prescription drug payments)

Protest FY05 overall cuts in the Veterans Administration budget, including long-term funding.

Protest FY05 budget cuts in education and family-support programs, directly impacting veterans and their families.

Wear Pink, Bring candles, signs and banners that respectfully express our support.

http://dc.indymedia.org/feature/display_printable/120393/index.php

[sasha031]

25. that is where the right is spinning again

Drudge and the other nut jobs are claiming antiwar protesters are protesting outside of hospitals where the sick and injured are.

[geckosfeet]

24. If they are that damn close to the facility, they would do the vets a

lot more good if they went in and helped them. Donations, whatever. Get those moranic conservative counter-demonstrators to come in and help too.

It just seems like this is just common sense. Have some sympathy and consideration for the wounded and recuperating human beings inside the hospital. Their families do not want to come visit them and see fake coffins lining the sidewalks.

Protesting the war is the right thing to do. But there are many ways to protest. Some more effective than others. This particular protest seems to be somewhat counterproductive.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

26. There have been reports...

that it is tough to get access to any of the wounded at WRH. Visitors/advocates and the vets themselves are tightly regulated. The head of a veterans group with a Congressional mandate to help recently wounded vets get information and help with benefits/programs complained that he and his group were being kept from vets and, when allowed to see them, had Army handlers present during visits.

It would be a nice gesture to help the vets, but the Army would make sure it wouldn't happen.