About time America!

Hundreds Counter anti-war demonstration




WASHINGTON: - Support for U.S. troops fighting abroad was mixed with anger toward anti-war demonstrators Sunday as hundreds of people rallied on the National Mall a day after tens of thousands protested against the war in Iraq.

“No matter what your ideals are, our sons and daughters are fighting for our freedom, “ said Marilyn Faatz, who drove from New Jersey to attend the rally. “We are making a mockery out of this. And we need to stand united, but we are not.”

About 400 people gathered near a stage on an eastern segment of the mall, with a large patchwork American flag serving as the backdrop. Amid banners and signs proclaiming support for U.S. troops, several speakers hailed the effort to bring democracy to Irag and Afghanistan, and denounced those who protest it.

Many demonstrators focused their ire at Cindy Sheehan, the Californian whose protest near President Bush’s ranch in Texas during the summer galvanized the anti-war movement. Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq, was among the speakers at Saturday’s rally near the Washington Monument that attracted an estimated 100,000 people.

“The group who spoke here the other day did not represent the American ideals of freedom, liberty and spreading that around the world,” Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala) told the crowd. “I frankly don’t know what they represent other than to blame America first.”

One sign on the mall read “Cindy Sheehan doesn’t speak for me” and another “Arrest the traitors,” listing Sheehan’s name first among people who have spoken against the war.

Melody Vigna, 44, of Linden, California, said she wants nothing to do with Sheehan.

“Our troops are over there fighting for our rights, and if she was in one of those countries she would not be able to do that,” Vigna said.

Sherri Francescon, 24, of Camp Lejeune, N.C., whose husband is serving with the Marines in Iraq, was one of the many military wives who spoke during the rally.

“I want him to know and I want his unit to know that America is behind them, Cindy doesn’t speak for us, and that we believe in what they are doing,” she said.

Organizers had hoped that as many as 20,000 people would turn out.