September 28, 2003

The father of a soldier killed in Iraq accused President George Bush yesterday of being responsible for his son's death. Fernando Suarez, whose 20-year-old son, Jesus, was one of the first fatalities, said: "My son died because Bush lied."

Tonight, Judy Wouldn't-Do-IT of SeeNotNews's Instead
of Politics, ran a new "poll" showing Conan the
Deceiver leading in the California "Total Recall"
boondoggle, then turned to an in-depth interview with
VICE _resident Cheney's book-burning, name-taking wife
Lynn...Too bad Judy didn't have time to interview
Fernando Suarez, whose name has been scrawled on the
John O'Neill Wall of Heroes along with many US
citizens and many friends of the US and of
international law around the world...
The father of a soldier killed in Iraq accused President George Bush yesterday of being responsible for his son's death. Fernando Suarez, whose 20-year-old son, Jesus, was one of the first fatalities, said: "My son died because Bush lied."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1050949,00.html
'You lied, they died,' US parents tell Bush

Duncan Campbell in Los Angeles
Saturday September 27, 2003
The Guardian

The father of a soldier killed in Iraq accused President George Bush yesterday of being responsible for his son's death. Fernando Suarez, whose 20-year-old son, Jesus, was one of the first fatalities, said: "My son died because Bush lied."

Mr Suarez, from Escondido, California, speaking at a
press conference to publicise tomorrow's anti-war
demonstrations in eight US cities, said that about
1,300 parents of troops stationed in Iraq were
involved in a movement against the oc cupation. "It is
time for these troops to come home," said Mr Suarez.
"Neither my wife nor my family want more children to
die in this illegal war. We are no less patriotic for
wanting peace. Bush wants $87bn [£52m] for this war,
but what does he give us for our schools?" he asked.

In another sign of the growing protest movement, the
father of two soldiers serving in Iraq used a full
page advertisement in yesterday's New York Times to
demand the sacking of the US defence secretary, Donald
Rumsfeld.

The ad accused President Bush and his administration
of misleading the public about weapons of mass
destruction.

"Donald Rumsfeld Betrayed My Sons and Our Nation. It's
Time For Him to Go," said the headline of the ad,
which was signed by Larry Syverson from Richmond,
Virginia.

The ad was paid for by MoveOn.org, an internet-based
organisation in San Francisco, and the Win Without War
coalition. It is not known how much they paid for the
ad, but the market rate is $139,000 (£83,700).

Mr Syverson wrote that one son, Branden, is a master
gun ner near Tikrit and another son, Bryce, is a
gunner based in Baghdad.

"I'm in awe at the courage of my sons and the
honourable service that they give," he wrote. "But the
leaders they serve have not acted honourably. They
have failed my sons. They have failed all of us. At
the very least, secretary Donald Rumsfeld must go."

The ad coincides with a fall in President Bush's
approval ratings, which have slipped below 50% for the
first time since September 11 2001.

Posted by richard at September 28, 2003 10:14 AM