Update on Camp Casey in Crawford Texas

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Update on Camp Casey in Crawford Texas

Postby GDN01 » Sun Aug 21, 2005 9:58 pm

There seemed to be a lot of interest in what was happening in Crawford last week before I left, so I thought I would update everyone as best I can.<br><br>I headed back to Crawford with my son on Thursday afternoon. Many of the people I had met the weekend before decided to return, and it was an interesting couple of days. For me, this second trip was more about internal camp work. Cindy had left due to her mother's stroke. No big events were scheduled. And the camp was going through growing pains. What became clear was that Camp Casey, the original site of the protest, was the grassroots movement. The decision to accept the ranch owner's offer of his land and move the camp had been made by the leadership of organizations without thorough consideration of what that would do to the grassroots people - the people who had been holding the camp together and providing the person-power day in and day out, the people who had been sleeping there in the ditch. This is difficult to report without it sounding like everyone had lost sight of why we were there to begin with - and that's not the case. It was a disagreement between the grassroots and the organized groups on how best to stay on message and maintain the original cause. The new site was set up with large events in mind, and providing a more comfortable setting. Since the organizers of the new site, for the most part, had not been staying at Camp Casey, they had a different vision of where this event should go. And the grassroots people were concerned that what had brought most people there would be lost - a simple action by a common person - we will sit here on the side of the road until Bush agrees to meet with Cindy or he leaves Crawford, whichever comes first. The new site felt too staged and contrived, more foused on entertainment and being an "event". When we all arrived from our various locations on Thursday evening, there were a lot of unhappy people at Camp Casey. After many conversations that evening and early the next day, it was decided that Camp Casey would remain where it had began. And the new site would be an event area, set up to handle large crowds and provide shade and food during the day, and would be a place for overflow camping and the large organizations to set up. <br>One of the reasons for this included the rows of crosses that had been set up at Camp Casey, many now have pictures and flowers and flags arranged on them. There would be no good way to dismantle this memorial. The crosses needed to stay where they are, and they couldn't be left alone. And there was something about that ditch and all the tents that can't be explained. And it can't be moved until this vigil has come to its end. While we understood the need to plan for the larger crowds and events, moving Camp Casey completely would have been a mistake. It felt like the power of the common person, the power of the grassroots effort, prevailed, when it became clear that we were committed to maintaining the original camp and the original feel of Camp Casey, not as a place of events and entertainment, but as a place of struggle and a solemn stand for peace and truth.<br><br>Friday was a day of re-organizing Camp Casey. It was a day of hard work in the heat. It was a day of greeting hundreds of people who passed through. It was a day of keeping on keeping on. It is difficult to know what to say here. What is happening at Camp Casey is as important now as it was the first day it began. It is difficult to keep something going for weeks, and that difficulty was apparent over the weekend. I think the people who came for the first time were having the inspiring experience I had the first time - which is a good thing. People are still finding their way there as they wake up and decide to reclaim their power. <br><br>Sometime around 4 in the afternoon on Friday, I began feeling really bad, strange in a way I had never felt. I told a couple of the people I had gotten close to that something was wrong. I was on the verge of heat stroke, but didn't know it. I wasn't the only one, and soon they got a van in to take us out. We were brought to the Peace House where we were given medical attention. A nurse packed ice on my neck, wrists, stomach, and feet, and wrapped me in ice cold towels to get my body temperature down. I stayed there until the sun set, bringing cool temperatures again. I took it easy the rest of the time I was there. It was hard to be there and not be actively involved. But so many people had arrived and they were all doing a great job of keeping Camp Casey organized, safe, and present. <br><br>Ten more days. That's what they have left to do. I hope it is possible. I hope the organizations who have stepped in don't lose sight of what this whole thing is about. I hope Camp Casey remains where it is until the end of August. And I hope this is the beginning of the end of our national slumber. <p></p><i></i>
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Re: Update on Camp Casey in Crawford Texas

Postby Dreams End » Sun Aug 21, 2005 11:36 pm

Thank you for being there and for the report. <p></p><i></i>
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Re: Update on Camp Casey in Crawford Texas

Postby ZeroHaven » Mon Aug 22, 2005 2:10 pm

I just watched today's Democracy Now! broadcast from the camp, and started to lose it.<br><br>They were talking to a woman from the opposition camp, Staci Glick. She was saying that she doesn't believe Bush was lying because he's "<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>a man of faith</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->". She said that Saddam could have had time to move his WMD's to Syria and we can't judge Bush's decisions because we don't know what intelligence documents he was looking at.<br><br>Here we are looking at proof that people have committed TREASON, here we are with the Downing memos, the undisclosed 9/11 reports, the.. all of it! This woman has NO IDEA this information is out there. This Staci is completely uninformed and is supporting Bush because he's a man of FAITH. The Casey camp brought a message to the ranch, it was rejected. The supporter camp brought a message to the ranch and it was received.<br>What can be shown to this woman, and others like her, to <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>inform them</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->? It makes me want to scream.<br><br> <p><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a239/ZeroHaven/tinhat.gif"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></p><i></i>
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Camp Casey

Postby Peachtree Pam » Mon Aug 22, 2005 2:32 pm

Hi Dreams End and Zero Haven,<br><br>First, thanks to GND01 for her reports and insights..we are all grateful....<br><br>We have to keep calm, not let the Rovists get the upper hand. A fascinating book to read about Rove's methods is "don't think of an elephant" by George Lakoff. One thing he stresses is never, NEVER, use their terms of reference when responding...then they have won the game.<br><br>The followers of Cindy have to keep repeating the mantra: "what noble cause did Casey die for?" ...the emphasis has to be kept on "what noble cause?" and NOTHING else.....<br><br>But it is hard to keep one's temper...and I am a little sad to see the "professional" left, like Joan Baez, moving in...where was she before?<br><br><br> <p></p><i></i>
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Re: Camp Casey

Postby ZeroHaven » Mon Aug 22, 2005 3:44 pm

(yes grateful for updates thanks)<br><br>Pam I totally see what you're saying about them staying on message. I was just going "wow she's right" when I realized that the noble cause question is already answered by the opposition. <br>Their answer is "to protect our country". They answer "we're fighting now so we don't have to fight later". <br>I can't figure out how to say this.. if Cindy's big question is already answered in the minds of those that don't share her views.. then it has no effect and makes them think she's being ridiculous. She may as well be standing there saying "why are blind people not allowed to drive?"<br><br>The "noble cause" is the (alleged) protection of the US of A. You and I may understand this isn't accurate, but Bush supporters don't agree.<br> Here's transcript with <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/08/22/1433240" target="top">Staci answering</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--> to the question of why she can't believe Bush lied.. and she's obviously not alone in her view. I hilighted important bits.<br><br><!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>he's a man of faith</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->, and I just don't think that <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>if he is what he says he is</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->, I don't think he would do that. And he’s, you know -- there's no reason. <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>There was no reason</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->. I don't think this was something to divert attention away from Afghanistan. I mean, this was -- you know, our -- if we didn't fight today, my son, who is two years old now would have to fight in the future and other people's sons would have to fight in the future for, you know, <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>the Iraqis. They're bringing their children up to hate us</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> and to, you know, make weapons of mass destruction, whatever, and you know, <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>it was going to come to this no matter what</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->. And it had to be taken care of immediately.</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> <br><br>The thing is.. her answer is founded in "gut feeling" and "opinion" instead of cold hard reality facts. If I knew how to spoon feed people like her the facts they need to make a real informed opinion I would. That's why I posed the question, hoping someone else knows.<br> <p><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a239/ZeroHaven/tinhat.gif"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></p><i></i>
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Re: Camp Casey

Postby Col Quisp » Mon Aug 22, 2005 3:55 pm

ZH: You are absolutely right. It's easy to imagine them answering the "What noble cause?" question by saying, "to protect our free-dumbs." I mean, it's such an obvious and easy way out. <br><br>I don't have an answer. Wish I did. Nobody wants to listen to the facts. They have done their jobs well -- the public is too dumbed down by TV, chemtrails. aspartame, MSG, Splenda and who knows what mixture of anti-depressants and Ritalin to be able to consider the intricacies of the Rove-Plame treason, Downing Street, etc. Especially Plamegate, which is becoming more convoluted by the day.<br><br>Again, sorry I have no answer. I feel like I'm just stating the obvious. <p></p><i></i>
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the answer

Postby Peachtree Pam » Mon Aug 22, 2005 4:06 pm

Zero,<br><br>You pin down the stupid woman by asking:<br><br>Is the noble cause to enrich Bush's cronies, as is taking place as we speak?<br><br>Is the noble cause to steal control of Iraq's oil, so that it can be denied to other countries dependent on it??<br><br>Is the noble cause to kill 150,000 Iraqi civilians, who have no guns, no defense? <br><br>Is the noble cause to deny Iraqis medicine and other vital necessities, water, food etc<br><br>Is the noble cause to blanket the country with dU, which is non-discriminatory, Brits, Americans and iraqis will be contaminated and die from the effects......including your husband and your son blah blah blah<br><br><br><br>You nail her by repeating the phrase: is the noble cause to.......... <p></p><i></i>
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Refining

Postby Peachtree Pam » Mon Aug 22, 2005 4:16 pm

In the phrase <br><br>Is it a noble cause ............you have to include some aspect that involves AMERICANS, because this woman will not give a God damn about Iraqi children, Iraqi mothers, DU except as it affects AMERICANS.....blah, blah, blah....<br><br><br>Even though I'm sure she is a GOOD CHRISTIAN WOMAN<br><br><!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rollin --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br><br> <p></p><i></i>
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Re: Camp Casey

Postby thrulookingglass » Mon Aug 22, 2005 4:19 pm

"But if the cause be not good, the King himself hath a<br>heavy reckoning to make when all those legs and arms and heads,<br>chopp'd off in a battle, shall join together at the latter day<br>and cry all 'We died at such a place'- some swearing, some crying<br>for a surgeon, some upon their wives left poor behind them, some<br>upon the debts they owe, some upon their children rawly left. I<br>am afeard there are few die well that die in a battle; for how<br>can they charitably dispose of anything when blood is their<br>argument? Now, if these men do not die well, it will be a black<br>matter for the King that led them to it; who to disobey were<br>against all proportion of subjection." - Williams, Henry V act 4 scene 1 - The "to protect our country" or "to fight them there so we don't have to fight them here" are both childish and unfounded reasoning that just don't fly. "To protect our county." - from what? An imagined threat? A threat yet to manifest? And could you be so sure that it will manifest (or will "they" make it so). The "bring the fight to them" mentality was used in Vietnam and was about as popular then as it remains now. I know we're talking about the "dyed in the wool" bush sticker, ribbons on the SUV crowd. They've clearly left the realm of the rational a long time ago.<br> <p></p><i></i>
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Re: Update on Camp Casey in Crawford Texas

Postby heath7 » Mon Aug 22, 2005 6:40 pm

GDN01, thanks for the first-hand account. <p></p><i></i>
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What is the message?

Postby GDN01 » Mon Aug 22, 2005 8:15 pm

This question is asked over and over by the organizers of Camp Casey. I like the question, "For what noble cause?" But agree that many think they can answer that with anything from "spreading freedom to Iraq" to "To protecting our homeland and freedoms" and other statements that sound noble, but have no shred of reality in them. And that is the point. This war is all based on lies. It isn't a cute phrase and if you don't believe it, it is nearly impossible to convince you of it. Especially with a sign in 10 words or less. <br><br>I have said here before on a thread that I didn't believe this action, this protest, was about changing anyone's mind - although I think some minds have been changed. I've read many things Cindy has written over the last couple of weeks, and while I can't speak for her, I think she might agree with me. Cindy has repeatedly said she is speaking for the 62 million people in this country who are opposed to what is happening in Iraq, the ones who no longer believe it was a good idea to invade a sovereign country, the ones who don't believe it was worth the cost in human life and resources to carry out this pre-emptive strike. I think more than changing minds, Cindy's actions and words, and maybe her intentions, are to empower the people who want the war to end and for Bush to be removed from power, to speak up. To do something. Anything. Take action. <br><br>In <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/8/20/115538/887">this diary entry</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--> at DKOS she writes about how she's been told to tone down her language (she often curses in the speeches she gives) to appeal to a larger audience. And she says she's not changing her style. She goes on to write,<br><!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>"I got an email the other day and it said, `Cindy if you didn't use so much profanity .... there's people on the fence that get offended.'<br><br>"And you know what I said? `You know what? You know what, god damn it? How in the world is anybody still sitting on that fence?'<br><br>"If you fall on the side that is pro-George and pro-war, you get your ass over to Iraq, and take the place of somebody who wants to come home. And if you fall on the side that is against this war and against George Bush, stand up and speak out."<br><br>This is what the Camp Casey miracle is all about. American citizens who oppose the war but never had a conduit for their disgust and dismay are dropping everything and traveling to Crawford to stand in solidarity with us who have made a commitment to sit outside of George's ranch for the duration of the miserable Texan August. If they can't come to Texas, they are attending vigils, writing letters to their elected officials and to their local newspapers; they are setting up Camp Casey branches in their hometowns; they are sending flowers, cards, letters, gifts, and donations here to us at Camp Casey. We are so grateful for all of the support, but I think pro-peace Americans are grateful for something to do, finally.</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--><br><br>I don't think Cindy is trying to convince people of anything but the need to take action, and take it now before more and more soldiers are killed in this war, and then the next one. And I think this is the message that needs to be maintained. Trying to soft-peddle America's disgust will only help the Bush regime maintain the status quo. And we all know what that tactic has done to the Democratic Party. Maybe the message needs to be "Get off the damn fence!"<br><br>And I agree Pam, if people like Joan Baez want to truly help - they should do more than show up for a performance. They should show up days ahead and stay there in the ditch and stay afterwards. It does look like Joan stayed afterwards and is trying to offer more than entertainment. I can't find it now, but somewhere in my reading today I saw that Joan had stayed and was speaking about the history of the peace movement in this country and offering to help in any way she could. <br> <p></p><i></i>
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Re: What is the message?

Postby Sweejak » Tue Aug 23, 2005 10:38 am

HTML Comments are not allowed<br><br>oh well, lost that message. Let me try again. <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p097.ezboard.com/brigorousintuition.showUserPublicProfile?gid=sweejak@rigorousintuition>Sweejak</A> at: 8/23/05 9:25 am<br></i>
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Re: What is the message?

Postby Sweejak » Tue Aug 23, 2005 11:34 am

I just got back myself from my second trip. GDN, we [probably missed each other if you left Friday afternoon.<br>Camp 1 is the coolest place I have ever been, except for the heat. I think the two camps work pretty good together but Camp 1 has the soul.<br><br>If anyone thinks this movement will die because Cindy is not there let them take note that at this second visit there are now 2 camps. Camp 1 has more than doubled in size, and Camp 2 on the new land has a huge tent, oddly enough the same tent, I'm told, that W used for his Ranger fundraising farce. I have never seen such fellowship and dedication, you have people working 14-16 hour days cooking, procuring water, working sanitation, driving shuttles etc. Everyone I met some sort of info-warrior... video, blogger, poet, musician, activist etc. It's generally self organizing, which is a little chaotic but I actually prefer that. The camp, while chaotic, is spotless. I did not even see a single can of beer nor anyone drunk. Not that I have anything against beer, but it shows that this is not intended to be a party. There were some Socialists who showed up (I'm told) flyering and pushing their angle and they were asked to leave, in fact the police ejected them at the request of the Camp. With the general quality of folks there it will not be easy to try a divide and conquer op here. I did see folks with tables and their DVD's including 9-11 topics and as long as they didn't push it it was fine. They even had "In Plane Sight", not my favorite 9-11 film, on a table at the Crawford Peace House. The little forums and discussions were full open with no topic left untouched.<br><br>Crawford police and the camp have arrived at a cooperative working relationsip and call me crazy but it appears that they are actually trying to protect everyone's freedom of speech. Still, I have no doubt that they would clear everyone out if so ordered.<br><br><br>I spoke with a Capt. May. He claims to have numerous military contacts and that his group is not a "peace group" but rather anti war warriors using military structure and tactics. A cyber cavalry.<br> A few links here about him.<br><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.ghosttroop.net/aprfoolspart1.html">www.ghosttroop.net/aprfoolspart1.html</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.ghosttroop.net/tragedytravesty.htm">www.ghosttroop.net/tragedytravesty.htm</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br><br>Also I spoke with a Mr Torres who claims his son Juan was murdered in Afghanistan for reporting drug running. Shot in the head in the shower. Military claims it was suicide with his M-16 ... In the shower? CID threatened his wife... very disturbing story. There should be a follow ups eventually here:<br> <!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://uncoverthetruth.org/">uncoverthetruth.org/</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--> His English is not that good and I had difficulty following the whole story. If you ever get the funky feeling that the dead are being used as a sort of sob story go talk to their parents, it will take you to tears. A large contingent of Vietnam Vets and their newest brothers, Iraq Vets Against the War were there, one, a Marine, played "Taps" at sundown. Very moving.<br><br>Yes, there is a swimming hole.<br>&#65532;<!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/2338/swimmin2ga.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br><br>The pro war folks seem to be running out of justifications. Perhaps?<br><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/8149/perhaps5ei.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br><br>About Captain May.<br>Rabbit hole here:<br><br>9112b<br>http://www.spiritone.com/~pazuu/pow-mia/GhostTroopCaptMay.htm<br>I think the story he told is pretty much here in full. Is he for real?<br>My initial impressions, without having gone thru the whole link.<br>Very knowledgable, multi-lingual, truly has the bearing of a cavalry officer, indeed one might say he is the prototype. Impassioned, which occasionally leads to what might be seen as overblown claims, but who is to say? For instance he says that his Ghost Troop, a cybercavalry as he calls it, broke up an intended nuclear false flag. As far as the logic of his story goes I see no obvious flaws and hence have to take him seriously. The only thing which disturbs me outright is that if he indeed did break up this False Flag op why is he alive? He says he has gone underground, but is very free with his info. He held a small group of us wide eyed with his info and the connections he makes, which goes into occult numerology, The Fourth Reich, a scenario he put together with the help of a former Art History teacher who experienced the Third Reich, someone named Prof. Peter Guenther.<br>http://www.vfvs.com/somePowerfulLinks.html An other example; Captain May says that Jessica Lynch was a diversion from the destruction of the 3/7 cavalry at the Baghdad airport, and of the bodies.... he asked if I remembered the reports of wounded having no place to stay except tents and un-airconditioned old barracks. I said yes I remember that. He said "do you also remember the blackout that hit the Northwest?" Yes I do. "That was cover for the return of the wounded." I don't have a time line to check it out but I thought back to the story about the reporter who was killed reportedly for photographing a mass grave.<br><br>He says General Byrne was fired because he found out a simulation was going to go live. He also stated that there is a coup taking place, slow motion, NOW. For an example of the kind of connections he makes he pointed out that at Crawford when W appeared with Cheney, Condi and the rest the Cheney was wearing a long sleeved jacket or something he said " In August...in Texas?".... "That was a kevlar body armor." Well, I have not seen the image he is speaking of but it would indeed be strange to wear long sleeved anything in August. Who knows.<br>He described his change of mind regarding the fall of the towers when a fellow mil intel analyst who was a few blocks from the towers told him [paraphrase]"That was a demolition, no doubt". And that started him on his road down the rabbit hole. He says that 9-112b ( 9-11 to be) attack was supposed to coincide with Congressional vacation and pointed out that at 9-11 it was the same, complete chaos and W pushed thru everything he wanted. He says W is finished. "Look, they run away from our women."<br><br>Currently his stuff is in my "Hmmm File" with a big flag on it.<br><br>The 3/7 Cavalry and Baghdad Airport.<br>http://www.ghosttroop.net/tragedytravesty.htm<br> <p></p><i></i>
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Mr May

Postby Peachtree Pam » Tue Aug 23, 2005 12:24 pm

Hi Sweejak,<br><br>Yes I "know" Mr May well through cyberspace. What I remember most was his talking about that period when everything was stalled and the troops were running out of food etc, remember that, and Mr May said that there had been a horrific fight at the airport, with many, many troops wounded. Mr May found out all about this because it was pretty well what he had surmised when everything just stopped.<br><br>Pam <p></p><i></i>
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Should have written Capt May

Postby Peachtree Pam » Tue Aug 23, 2005 12:30 pm

I just read about Mr Torres son yesterday. He was trying to stop the troops from taking and running dope and he met with a very angry attitude on the part of his superiors. Hid dad (in a phone call) pleaded with him to drop it, that it was nearly time for him to come home, but the son refused to do that...... <p></p><i></i>
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