There has been a lot of publicity surrounding Christine Sheehan, the mother of one of our brave young men who lost his life in Iraq. She has aligned herself with the anti-war advocates and moveon.org. and has generated much interest in the media for her outspoken chastizements of President Bush and the War on Terror and the War in Iraq.

As a former military wife who sat through four of my husband's Vietnam tours and agonized nightly any time he was on deployment, I can certainly sypathize with Ms. Sheehan. Unfortunately, I cannot agree with her or the tactics she has chosen to work through her grief.

We owe her comfort and support in her grief for her loss is something she'll live with the rest of her life. But, her son's death should not be devalued and that is what is happening here. The story has become about Ms. Sheehan and the loss of her son ... calling his sacrifice for nothing. The story is not about Ms. Sheehan and to lose sight of this fact is even a greater disservice to her son. He chose to join the military and, although I never knew him, I'm sure that he was proud of his service. Ms. Sheehan may not have fully appreciated that when her son joined the military, and through his training, had a full understanding that he may be asked to pay the ultimate sacrifice. He deserves to be honored for that sacrifce, not have his death belittled by calling it "for nothing." And, I'm 100% positive that Ms. Sheehan's son would not want the job he did or the job so many other brave young men and women do every day to be devalued in the way his mother is doing now. Grieve for your son, Cindy, but don't publicly demoralize the rest of our troops and encourage our enemies.

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Newsday August 15 Husband of 'Peace Mom' Files for Divorce

Iraq Raid Yields Possible Chemical Production Facility American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Aug. 13, 2005 – Acting on detainee-provided tips, coalition forces found what's believed to be an insurgent chemical production facility and chemical storage locations during Aug. 9 raids in northern Iraq, officials in Iraq reported today. Technical experts are analyzing this chemical production equipment believed to be part of a clandestine operation. Officials state so far that evidence was insufficient on what was being produced at the facility found during a U.S.-led raid Aug. 9.   The early morning raids, conducted by Task Force Freedom, uncovered what technical experts believe to be a "clandestine chemical production facility" and possibly related storage sites. Military officials are careful to state that ongoing analysis of the chemical evidence collected from the sites is currently insufficient to determine what the insurgents had been producing. "We are continuing to investigate the production and storage facilities to determine what type and quantities of chemicals were produced at the facility and the specific threat posed to our forces," said Col. Henry Franke, Multinational Corps' nuclear, biological and chemical defense officer. "We don't want to speculate on any possibilities until our analysis is complete," he added. But military officials believe they've disrupted a potentially serious threat to coalition forces and the Iraqi people. Intelligence experts are conducting related investigations to determine which terrorist or insurgent group is responsible for the construction and operation of the secret facility. (Based on a Multinational Force Iraq news release.)

Related Site:
Multinational Force Iraq

This chemical production equipment among items found during the Task Force Freedom raid on Aug. 9 in northern Iraq.   Download screen-resolution

Unidentified chemicals in 5-gallon containers stacked against a wall represented the more than 1,500 gallons of various chemicals were found in northern Iraq on Aug. 9.   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution

Stored leaking chemicals were found near the possible production facility uncovered in U.S.-led Aug. 9 raids in northern Iraq.   Download screen-resolution

These unidentified chemicals in 55-gallon drums were part of the more than 1,500 gallons of various chemicals were found in northern Iraq on Aug. 9.   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution