My Soul Weeps

This is heartbreaking. So many have lived in fear for years thinking another 9/11 would happen. Did the people ever think the terror would be a natural disaster where the people of the disaster can't get help, can't get out of the city under water because they are poor and most the wrong color. So many do want to help...the everyday people. How come their not allowed in to bring people food, water? Plane loads of supplies are sitting in Canada not being allowed in because of homeland security. We have no security at this point. All we have is "we the people". We the people must rise up and help the ones who need it.  Do what you can. We are all different in what we can give. Some are just as poor as the people in NO, they don't have the money to give. Maybe you have time. Maybe you have a bed, a room, or a vacation house you can offer. Maybe you have a job to offer. Anything you can think of at this point to help is needed. We must stand together "we the people" and do what is right. We are all human, we all live here together.

 

 

 

 

Message From Cindy - Going home to rest

Tired to the Bone
How Does Scotty McClellan Live with Himself?
Days 1 and 2
Bring Them Home Now Bus Tour

Since I was bone tired when I finally got to a bed, I didn't write my blog last night. This will probably be the last time I write for awhile, unless I think of something exciting to say. I am on my way home until the end of next week when I head back for the Bus Tour.

Yesterday, we left Camp Casey and it was very emotional for me. Like I said before, I never thought I would feel so badly about leaving Crawford, Texas behind. But I never counted on the Crawford, Texas experience turning into the Camp Casey experience. We actually walked around most of the time with stupid grins on our faces because being at Camp Casey was such a happy experience. However, we are carrying Camp Casey with us to the nation now.

I left Camp Casey on the same bus I pulled up in: The VFP Impeachment Tour Bus. It was excruciatingly hot as we rolled into Austin in 100 plus degree heat with no air. When we got into Austin and were still on I-35, our bus was greeted by honks, waves, and cheers from our fellow rush hour motorists. I was afraid we would cause an accident in the go sometimes, but mostly stopped traffic. We arrived safely at Congressman Lloyd Doggett's office and spoke to his aide. It was a great meeting and we are 100% behind Lloyd Doggett and he is 100% behind us.

From the Congressman's office, we went to the state's capitol and I received a Texas flag and a proclamation welcoming me to Texas from an Austin state legislator. I thought since I had been in Texas for almost a month it was nice that someone finally welcomed me.

We marched from the state capitol to Austin city hall. It was quite a sight as many hundreds of people followed us down Congress Street behind our "Support our troops, Bring Them Home Now" banner. We sang and chanted as we walked. People were joining us for our march from the sidewalks. It was the most remarkable march I have ever been a part of.

For the rally at City Hall, we were greeted by easily 2000 plus people, whom I joked with about moving to Austin and running for mayor. Most of the crowd had been to Camp Casey at one time or the other. We had VFP, IVAW, MFSO and GSFP members speak. My friend, David Rovics played a couple of songs, including: Every Mother's Son about Casey. My friend, Jim Hightower also spoke. It is always a treat to hear him.

I spoke and I talked about how George couldn't come out and see me when I was in Crawford, because he didn't have an answer for me: there is no "Noble Cause" so how could he answer me. He admitted the other day that it was for oil. I don't consider that a good enough reason for so many people being dead. Iraq could and would sell us their oil. I really believe immoral criminals are running our country and it is making me even more determined to save it with millions of my fellow citizen's help.

This morning, I was watching Scotty McClellan's press conference and the press corps was asking him about the failure in preparations for the hurricane. He kept on saying: "this is not the time to point fingers, lay blame, or for politics." Of course it isn't, when the blame lies squarely on the shoulders of the people he works for. From diverting money to Iraq that was intended to shore up the levees and make New Orleans safer, to sending 70 percent of the National Guard from Louisianna, Mississippi, and Alabama to Iraq in a war that never has made sense, George Bush has failed this country. By his actions in the first few days of the Katrina tragedy, he has also demonstrated that he doesn't care about Americans whether they are in Iraq or in America.

We on the Bring Them Home Now Bus Tour really agonized for the last day if we should continue the trip considering what is going on in our country. We came to the conclusion that it is more important for us to "stay the course" and point out the failures of this administration and how this illegal occupation of Iraq is making our country far less safe than it was before. We will "complete the mission" to honor the sacrifices of our fallen heroes. We will strive and not give up until our troops are brought home from Iraq and everyone in both countries are more secure.

PS: Tom Delay's aide said he probably won't meet with me because I don't "comport" myself properly. I told him that we don't think Tom Delay "comports" himself properly and I could probably get a meeting if Casey had a feeding tube in him instead of being dead for his boss's support of a horrible war.
His aide said he didn't know what I was referring to...when are these people going to stop thinking I am stupid?

National Housing Drive

For those who aren't on the email list..this is important. These people need a place to live. "We the People" need to help.

 

Dear MoveOn member,

Hurricane Katrina's toll on communities, homes and lives has devastated the nation. Now victims must face the daunting question of where to go next—and we can help.

Tens of thousands of newly homeless families are being bused to a stadium in Houston, where they may wait for weeks or months. At least 80,000 are competing for area shelters, and countless more are in motels, cars, or wherever they can stay out of the elements. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Red Cross are scrambling to find shelter for the displaced.

This morning, we've launched an emergency national housing drive to connect your empty beds with hurricane victims who desperately need a place to wait out the storm. You can post your offer of housing (a spare room, extra bed, even a decent couch) and search for available housing online at:

http://www.hurricanehousing.org

Housing is most urgently needed within reasonable driving distance (about 300 miles) of the affected areas in the Southeast, especially New Orleans.

Please forward this message to anyone you know in the region who might be able to help.

But no matter where you live, your housing could still make a world of difference to a person or family in need, so please offer what you can.

The process is simple:

You can sign up to become a host by posting a description of whatever housing you have available, along with contact information. You can change or remove your offer at any time.

Hurricane victims, local and national relief organizations, friends and relatives can search the site for housing. We'll do everything we can to get your offers where they are needed most. Many shelters actually already have Internet access, but folks without 'net access can still make use of the site through case workers and family members.

Hurricane victims or relief agencies will contact hosts and together decide if it's a good match and make the necessary travel arrangements. The host's address is not released until a particular match is agreed on.

If hosting doesn't work for you, please consider donating to the Red Cross to help with the enormous tasks of rescue and recovery. You can give online at:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=859

As progressives, we share a core belief that we are all in this together, and today is an important chance to put that idea to work. There are thousands of families who have just lost everything and need a place to stay dry. Let's do what we can to help.

http://www.hurricanehousing.org

Thanks for being there when it matters most.

—Noah Winer and the whole MoveOn.org Civic Action Team
  Thursday, September 1st, 2005

No help from FEMA in So. Fla from Katrina

Dear Friend,

Yesterday, I, along with Representatives Wasserman Schultz, Hastings, and Wexler, wrote to President Bush urging him to grant Individual Assistance to Hurricane Katrina victims in Broward and Dade Counties.  I wanted to make you aware of this letter because FEMA has refused to grant assistance to individuals and families affected in our community.  I think FEMA is wrong, and that it should change its decision and help our residents.

We now know that there are over 170 homes destroyed or severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina in Broward and Dade Counties.  These people need assistance, and I will continue to do everything I can to see that they get it.  I strongly believe that all the hurricane victims should be eligible for the help they need to get back on their feet.  Our hearts go out to the victims of this hurricane.

If you would like contact information for various charitable organization offering relief to victims of Hurricane Katrina, please click here.

Sincerely,
 
KENDRICK B. MEEK
Member of Congress

 

The letter from Reps. Meek, Wasserman Schultz, Hastings and Wexler follows:

August 31, 2005

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Bush:  

We write to urge you in the strongest possible terms to immediately use your authority to provide Individual Assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to the residents of Dade and Broward Counties, Florida who suffered damage because of Hurricane Katrina.  

We have been verbally advised by the State of Florida, Division of Emergency Management that FEMA has denied Florida's eligibility for Individual Assistance, despite the fact that FEMA's assessment revealed 152 homes destroyed or severely damaged in Miami-Dade County and 20 in Broward County, with many more sustaining more minor damage.  We further understand that FEMA does not want to provide assistance to Dade and Broward Counties because FEMA says Florida does not meet the "State Threshold" for such a declaration, which FEMA has set at 800 homes destroyed or severely damaged.  

We ask you to reject these criteria and ensure that every resident of Dade and Broward Counties who needs federal assistance, and is eligible for it, receives it.   

We believe that the destruction, suffering and disruption of every Dade and Broward resident who FEMA itself has determined have sustained damage from Hurricane Katrina, merits the help extended to all of the hurricane's victims.  Using a "State Threshold" to deny FEMA's help to individual Floridians who need it is like denying medical aid to a few hundred sick people because several hundred people aren't sick.    

FEMA has authority under section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. § 5174-5204c and Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) to provide financial assistance to eligible individuals and households who, as a direct result of a major disaster, have necessary expenses and serious needs and are unable to meet such expenses or needs through other means.  

We ask that you direct FEMA to use this authority immediately to help our residents who suffered damage from Hurricane Katrina - Florida residents who, absent FEMA's "State Threshold," would be eligible for help from their government.

Thank you for your kind attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,  

KENDRICK B. MEEK
DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ
ALCEE L. HASTINGS
ROBERT WEXLER

Camp Casey Last Day

UPDATES ON CINDY SHEEHAN VISIT TO CRAWFORD
Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2005
(Reverse Time Order — More Recent Entries Toward Top)

2 p.m.
Gene Ellis reporting for The Iconoclast

FINAL CRAWFORD UPDATE:

Buses were being packed all morning for departing Cindy Sheehan supporters and relief materials for the New Orleans area at Camp Casey I.

Sheehan held a press conference and told the remaining supporters that she was very grateful for all their help during these days at Crawford. She said, "I never thought when I started here that I would be sad to leave, but I am. We outstayed President Bush."

Sheehan reiterated that the movement would not end until the soldiers came home, that on Sept. 24 in Washington, D.C. "we must tell the President that we have had enough and hold him accountable for the death and destruction he has caused."

Sheehan planned to depart on the same veterans' bus on which she arrived, but will leave the tour at some point and rejoin the buses in about a week.

Sheehan mentioned that she found it difficult to believe that President Bush said yesterday, that we should protect the oil fields from terrorists. She asked, "How many of you are willing to sacrifice one of your children to be able to pay over $3 a gallon for gas?"

"It was for oil after all," she added, "and that's not a good enough reason."

"We need to spend our money on renewable energy sources so no one else has to die. There was no noble cause," she said.

Sheehan urged people to consult her website: <bringthemhomenow.org> and to pressure their elected officials to end the war.

The buses departed Camp Casey I at approximately 11 a.m. and headed to the Peace House. A light luncheon was served while people said their goodbyes. The four RVs were prepared with banners and slogans. Somesupporters sang and danced and cheers accompanied the departing vans and the veterans' bus as they left on their three-week tour.

The cleanup continues at the two camps.

 

 

CINDY SHEEHAN held her last press conference at Camp Casey I this morning.
— Iconoclast Photo By Gene Ellis

SANDRA and Ulis Williams from Pacific Palisades, Calif, are involved in counter-recruiting.
— Iconoclast Photo By Gene Ellis

TIFFANY BURNS and Alicia Sexton, both of Los Angeles, worked tirelessly with CodePink during Sheehan's vigil in Texas.
— Iconoclast Photo By Gene Ellis

JAMES HILL offered computer support during Sheehan's stay in Texas.
— Iconoclast Photo By Gene Ellis

KAREN BERNAL lent her help at the Peace House and both Camp Caseys.
— Iconoclast Photo By Gene Ellis

ANDREW STERN of Newsweek magazine will travel from Crawford to Louisiana on his next assignment.
— Iconoclast Photo By Gene Ellis

WHITNEY STONE lost 10 pounds even though her mother, Lorri Rossi-Green of Los Angeles, was cooking at Camp Casey.
— Iconoclast Photo By Gene Ellis

REMAINING SUPPORTERS celebrated at the Peace House before boarding buses for various parts of the country.
— Iconoclast Photo By Gene Ellis

RVs were festooned with banners and slogans prior to leaving the Peace House in Crawford.
— Iconoclast Photo By Gene Ellis

THE VETERANS FOR PEACE BUS which brought Cindy Sheehan to the ditch that would become Camp Casey I carried her away from Crawford.
— Iconoclast Photo By Gene Ellis

THE FIRST RV departs Crawford amid honks and cheers from well-wishers, including Rebeka Patnode of Wendell, Mass..
— Iconoclast Photo By Gene Ellis

DENNIS KYNE presents Cindy Sheehan with two DVDs, Bush's Brain and Beyond Treason. Kyne, a medical specialist and veterans' advocate, appeared in Beyond Treason, which exposes the devastation of depleted uranium.
— Iconoclast Photo By Gene Ellis

The good people and bad in our country

I have always said, when we have a disaster happens in this country our true colors come out. Some people would do anything to help. Others will use the event for not so good reasons. Some people do sicken me. Here are some of the things I have been reading.

From Mad As Hell and I'm Not Going to Take It Anymore Journal.

But one little incident marred the entire day for me. My daughter and I were taking a break and drinking some bottled water. At the picnic table next to us we overheard three skunks at the garden party. This group of one man and two women were discussing the flood that has devastated Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. As they were explaining it, the people who have lost everything deserved it. God was settling the score with all of the evil good for nothing’s that reside there. If those Southerners had only prayed or been a little more devout they would have been spared God’s wrath. They also noted that it was mainly “darkies” who were suffering because it was God’s will to spare most of the pure Christian white men.

I should point out that those three people shared a deep Southern drawl that led me to believe they originally hailed from farther south that Albert Lea, MN. I also strongly suspect that the storm was a lot less personal than the KKK contingent wants to believe. Good, bad and indifferent; white, black, and mulatto people equally got nailed by the storm. To say otherwise just demonstrates a level of ignorance and spiritual retardation that repulses me.

And then there is this which I can't believe AT ALL..this really sickens me

Fundies: Katrina is Gods punishment on abortionist!!! by AHiddenSaint Tue Aug 30th, 2005 at 21:08:36 PDT

So when do fundies go to far?

Salon

Two days after 9/11, Jerry Falwell took to the airwaves to proclaim that God had allowed the United States to be attacked because "the pagans and the abortionists and the feminists and the gays and the lesbians" had tried to transform America into a secular society. Just this weekend, wingnuts from the Westboro Baptist Church turned out at the funerals of two fallen soldiers to say that God is punishing the United States in Iraq for its tolerance of homosexuality back home.

• AHiddenSaint's diary :: ::

So when Hurricane Katrina hit land yesterday, we knew it was only a matter of time before we'd be hearing from the lunatic fringe again. And now, here it is. In an email message we just received, a group calling itself Columbia Christians for Life alerts us to the fact that a satellite image of Hurricane Katrina as it hit the Gulf Coast Monday looks just like a six-week old fetus.

"The image of the hurricane . . . with its eye already ashore at 12:32 p.m. Monday, August 29, looks like a fetus (unborn human baby) facing to the left (west) in the womb, in the early weeks of gestation (approx. 6 weeks)," the email message says. "Even the orange color of the image is reminiscent of a commonly used pro-life picture of early prenatal development."

And in case you're not getting the point, the email message spells it out in black and white: "Louisiana has 10 child-murder-by-abortion centers," the groups says, and "five are in New Orleans."

 

AND THIS

Press release from the radical right

 

HURRICANE KATRINA DESTROYS NEW ORLEANS
DAYS BEFORE "SOUTHERN DECADENCE" 8/31/05

PHILADELPHIA - Just days before "Southern Decadence", an annual homosexual celebration attracting tens of thousands of people to the French Quarters section of New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina destroys the city.

"Southern Decadence" has a history of filling the French Quarters section of the city with drunken homosexuals engaging in sex acts in the public streets and bars. Last year, a local pastor sent video footage of sex acts being performed in front of police to the mayor, city council, and the media. City officials simply ignored the footage and continued to welcome and praise the weeklong celebration as being an "exciting event". However, Hurricane Katrina has put an end to the annual celebration of sin.

On the official "Southern Decadence" website (www.SouthernDecadence.com), it states that the annual event brought in "125,000 revelers" to New Orleans last year, increasing by thousands each year, and up from "over 50,000 revelers" in 1997. This year’s 34th annual "Southern Decadence" was set for Wednesday, August 31, 2005 through Monday, September 5, 2005, but due to massive flooding and the damage left by the hurricane, Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco has ordered everyone to evacuate the city.

The past three mayors of New Orleans, including Sidney Barthelomew, Marc H. Morial, and C. Ray Nagin, issued official proclamations welcoming visitors to "Southern Decadence". Additionally, New Orleans City Council made other proclamations recognizing the annual homosexual celebration.

"Although the loss of lives is deeply saddening, this act of God destroyed a wicked city," stated Repent America director Michael Marcavage. "From ‘Girls Gone Wild’ to ‘Southern Decadence’, New Orleans was a city that had its doors wide open to the public celebration of sin. May it never be the same," he continued.

New Orleans is also known for its Mardi Gras parties where thousands of drunken men revel in the streets to exchange plastic jewelry for drunken women to expose their breasts. This annual event sparked the creation of the "Girls Gone Wild" video series.

"Let us pray for and help those ravaged by this disaster. However, we must not forget that the citizens of New Orleans tolerated and welcomed the wickedness in their city for so long," Marcavage said. "May this act of God cause us all to think about what we tolerate in our city limits, and bring us trembling before the throne of Almighty God," Marcavage concluded.

"[God] sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." (Matthew 5:45)

The people effected from the hurricane need our help. They don't need this kind of crap from the crazies in this country.  And a lot of the crazies are in our government who won't do anything. It has been days and people still aren't getting the help they need. The government wants "we the people" to donate money.  This is their answer. They want us to donate while they steel our tax dollars on their "war". The missing 9 billion dollars sure would come in handy now. I do wonder how much George and Dick have given out of their own pockets since they are asking all of us to do it.

Leaving Camp Casey -Day 25 - From Cindy

It Was the Oil, Stupid

The Peaceful Occupation of Crawford - Day 25

A BUZZFLASH GUEST CONTRIBUTION
by Cindy Sheehan

"If Zarqawi and bin Laden gain control of Iraq, they would create a new training ground for future terrorist attacks," Bush said. "They'd seize oil fields to fund their ambitions. They could recruit more terrorists by claiming a historic victory over the United States and our coalition." (George Bush, August 30, 2005 in San Diego.)

So it is official, Casey had his blood shed in Iraq for OIL. He died so we could pay over 3.00/gallon for gas. Like I suspected all along, my dear, sweet son: almost 1900 others; and tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis died so the oil fields wouldn't "fall into the hands of terrorists" and so George and his immoral band of greedy robber barons could become wealthier. Like I have said all along: how can these people sleep at night and how can they choke down their food knowing it is purchased off of the flesh and blood of others? We have found our "Noble Cause." And it is OIL. This man and his handlers need to be stopped.

Well, George and I are leaving Crawford today. George is finished playing golf and telling his fables in San Diego, so he will be heading to Louisiana to see the devastation that his environmental policies and his killing policies have caused. Recovery would be easier and much quicker if almost ½ of the three states involved National Guard were not in Iraq. All of the National Guard's equipment is in Iraq also. Plus, with the 2 billion dollars a week that the private contractors are siphoning from our treasury, how are we going to pay for helping our own citizens in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama? And, should I dare say "global warming?" and be branded as a "conspiracy theorist" on top of everything else the reich-wingers say about me.

We are now packing up Camp Casey and leaving Crawford and heading to George's place of employment. He wouldn't talk to us, his employers, while we were here to give him his "job evaluation," so we must go to him to have our little chat.

I just want to thank a few people and groups for their support, help, and love while we have been here in Crawford. So many people made the Camp Casey experience possible and so successful. If I miss someone, I am so sorry: that is the difficult thing about thanking people. I love you all, even if I don't remember to thank you!!

My sister: Dede Miller: My kids' second mom who is always by my side and supports me 100% in whatever I do. My cause is her cause, and I couldn't do what I do without her.

Carly, Andy, and Janey: Who would love to see more of their mom, but who understand that we are trying to save their future by what we do. I love you guys, and I will see you very, very soon (yea!!) I couldn't do what I do without their love and support.

The Crawford Peace House: I got an email from Hadi Jawad the day that I decided to come and camp in Crawford and he pledged the help and support of the Peace House. At that time, they only had a few bucks in their checking account and the phone was turned off. Now, thanks to America, they have been able to keep Camp Casey going and they will be able to continue their good works indefinitely. Thanks to John Wolf who had the vision for peace in Crawford and I think that Camp Casey was a fulfillment of his vision. They are going to make a garden and call it "The Casey Sheehan Memorial Peace Garden." What a tribute to my son.

Code Pink: Jodie Evans and Tiffany and Alicia were the first ones here on Monday 08/08 to jump in and save me from going crazy and hopping on one of the trains that runs past the Peace House and pulling an "Agatha Christie." Code Pink also worked tirelessly (and I mean tirelessly) outside of Camp Casey.

MoveOn: For organizing the highly successful candlelight vigils.

Lisa Fithian: For all the organizing work she did behind the scenes.

GSFP, IVAW, MFSO, AND VFP: Our organizations with "skin in the game" for all of their support, presence, love, and help.

Bill Mitchell: Bill's son Mike, was KIA in the same battle as Casey and he was the first GSFP member to come to Camp Casey and take some of the heat off of me. He found a new love at Camp Casey (one of our miracles) and I am sooo happy about that. Plus, Bill is one of my most ardent supporters and he just gets in the middle of things, digs in, and helps wherever. I love him and he and his family will be parts of our family forever.

Fred Mattlage: For donating the amazing piece of land for our use that allowed Camp Casey to expand to include thousands.

Air America: The Morning Sedition, Randi Rhodes, Mike Malloy, and Laura Flanders. Thank you for your support . Ed Schultz belongs there, too, although he is not affiliated with Air America Radio. Amy Goodman was here, too!

The bloggers on The Daily Kos (and most bloggers in general): I wouldread their comments everyday after I posted my diary and I was always heartened and encouraged by their remarks. After all of the negativity, their positivity gave me strength to go on. In addition, the first night we were in Crawford, and being harassed by the SS, they were posting things and getting the word out that we were there alone and defenseless, which may have saved our lives, or saved us from being injured, or harassed out of there.

So many other people: The Camp Casey volunteers...literally hundreds. The more than 10,000 people who came through CC. Ann Wright who kept CC going. Arianna Huffington for her advice and support. Joan Baez who kept CC's spirits alive while I was in California attending to my sick mother. George Bush for not meeting with me on August 6th. Martin Sheen for his support and presence. A.I.M for Dennis Banks and Russell Means. Gary Hart, John Conyers, Maxine Waters, Barbara Lee, Sheila Jackson Lee, Jan Schakowsky, Dennis Kucinich, Frank Pallone, Lynn Woolsey, Chuck Hagel, Ralph Nader, Jim McDermott, Walter Jones, Charlie Rangel and the other politicos who either came to CC, or called me to offer their support and love. I know I am forgetting some, but thanks to you all. Joe Wilson and his family for paving the way for me to be able to ignore and dismiss the reich-wing smear machine who always tried to marginalize and discredit me by exaggerating or twisting my words and lying about me. The clergy who were there with their love and support: Rabbi Arthur Waskow, Rabbi Dennis Shulman; Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Bob Edgars, Rev. Jesse Jackson (who prayed bed time prayers with me), Rita Brock, etc.

There were so many good people who donated money, goods, or services who want to be kept anonymous.

But especially to Americans who resonated with Camp Casey and gave us prayers, support, money, love and most of all hope for the future.

We will take our country back. And it will be a country that we want back.

God Bless America!!!!

Camp Casey comes to an end, bus tours begin Today is the last day of the encampment. Setting off from Crawford, Texas today are three buses that will make up The Bring Them Home Now Tour. Each bus is carrying military and Gold Star families, veterans of the Iraq War and veterans of previous wars. These buses will travel different routes across the country, converging in Washington, DC on September 21, for the United for Peace and Justice Mobilization Sep 24th-26th.

I was talking to Iraq veteran Kelly Dougherty yesterday. She summed up what many were thinking, "This (Camp Casey) was not supposed to happen. No one could have planned it, but here it is. It has been amazing. And it is just the beginning. We are going to keep at it until all of the troops are brought home."