I do agree that Cindy Sheehan's son, Casey, died for 'nothing'. But when I started to write this comment, a thought occurred to me, "he died for Bush's ego, he died for oil, he died for politics."

All the men and women who have died in this so-called war agains terrorism have died in vain. This is heartbreaking and tragic. We, have disstablalized a sovereign nation, though everyone agreed that Sadaam was evil. The Iraqis did not ask us to change the politics of their country.

Though the Bush administration continues to sell the idea that we are building a free and democratic Iraq, the facts... indeed the reality show a very different 'creation' happening, a civil war!

As a mother of four, two of which are sons, I cry, I grief for the mother's sacrificing their sons and daughters. Some who still believe the lies Mr. Bush and his cronies continue to spew.

Please let's wake-up! Let's cry out in unison as one people, one country and shout, "ENOUGH!"

I can not even imagine the pain felt by Cindy Sheehan with the death of her son. It is regretable, though, that she would not honor her son as a hero and a role model. History may decide that this was a dishonorable war waged by politicians for ill conceived ambitions, but the dishonor can NEVER be placed on those who fought honorably and with steadfast dedication at the direction of those who ordered their involvement. It is sad to think that the first thing to come to mind when the name Casey Sheehan is mentioned will be the debacle created by Cindy Sheehan. She should be ashamed of herself.

of course no one wants to feel as though there lives are being lost "for nothing," but that is exactly the case with our kids in iraq. what are our true goals there? stopping a nation with wmd's right? i mean that's what got us in this mess. but wait no wmd's have been found, so what's the new objective? stopping al quaeda right? al quaeda will never go away or be "stopped" until america realizes the reasons for which an entire culture has come to view us as the great evil. as long as we send in troops for "pre-emptive strikes" or "regime change" or any other mission that has nothing to do with our country our kids will be dying for nothing. 3000+ dead and america is no safer than it was before this mess, one could argue we are in even more danger.

I continue to be amazed how many people still refuse to listen to the troops on the ground. The overwhelming majority of them - myself included - are more than willing to go and fight.
It is utterly demeaning to us to hear how bad you feel about us being here for nothing. It may be nothing to you but to us it's our calling. Give us the respect we deserve and allow us to decide what's best for us.

Casey did'nt die for nothing. He didn't die for oil or Bush's ego, he died doing a soldiers duty to his country. Cindy disrespected his sacrifice by putting herself in the limelight and cavorting with dictators like Chavez who as we speak is shutting down ALL opposition to his regime.

I do not agree with this war in the least and protested it before it began. However, I do not think his death was for nothing. His death brought his mother into the public fore, showing the nation that this war was waged for the wrong reasons and it continues to be ran poorly. His death may not be meaningful if viewed purely from the Iraqi war standpoint. But if you look at his death and what it's done for our country and the peace movement since then, his death has had a profound impact.

Casey did not die "for nothing". He died serving his country and protecting our freedom. History will tell us whether or not the war in Iraq was successful or not, but that does not take away from the bravery and valor of every last person that served over there.
God bless them all.

This soldier did not die for nothing! We're in a war we should not be in, but that doesn't change the fact that we're there. Do you think the soldiers in Iraq really care about what's happening in Washington DC? It doesn't change the fact that they are over there being shot at. This soldier died for the men he served with - for you to say he died for nothing is terrible. Imagine if he had taken a bullet in order to save his buddy. Would he have died for nothing? You cannot over-examine this. Bush, Saddam and politics go out the window when bullets are flying at you. These soldiers are caught up in a war they shouldn't be in, but to say they die for no reason is very cruel and cold. He died so your sons and daughters don't have to. Is that not reason enough??

As a veteran of this so called War on Terrorism, I must agree with Mrs. Sheehan. Her son did die for nothing in a war that has no meaning.

Now, on the other hand, if her son believed in the lies told by the dictator president of the US, then he died fighting for his own beliefs and therefore did not die for nothing.

I was there in '03 when the WMD's were not found. I was there and I saw how the Iraqi people did not want us there. I was there and I saw how the US is killing Iraqi civilians.

I applaud Cindy Sheehan on all that she has done and it saddens me that she has come to realise a truth that I, along with millions of others, believe. These soldiers fight in a war that has no meaning and no honor. These soldiers are dieing for a country that cares more about American Idol than they do them. These soldiers, of which I am one of them, are dieing for nothing but one very evil mans politics.

And what do we get for expressing our views and oppinions? We get labled as terrorists by the US. So much for freedo

I do not agree that her son died for nothing although I do not fault her for feeling so. I think her comments are compounded daily by the endless company line from our government, of staying the course and defeating terrorism globally. Mr. Bush please stop insulting our "intelligence" and give these people who have lost a loved one some admission of the mishandled nature of this war and an exit strategy so that more innocent troops don't have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

It is shocking and sad to know some people believe Casey died for nothing. He was a U.S. soldier, and he died doing his duty to his country. Our armed services put their lives on the line every day because they believe in their cause, and people here at home have the gall to belittle and disrespect that sacrifice!
You may not agree with our President and his policies, but those boys and girls deserve our full respect. I know how much it hurts to lose a loved one - Ms. Sheehan has my sympathy for her loss. But to disrespect her son's sacrifice and purpose in life so wholeheartedly was shameful and unworthy of an American.
WE voted these people into office. It is OUR duty to take responsibility for that and to do a better job better next time if we don't like it. But whatever you shoose to do, do not disrespect our soldiers!

I don't think she has much respect for her son. She says he died for nothing. I don't think he felt that way. No one wants to see anyone die, however, that is something that happens in a war. I'm sure her son knew the risks but he still signed up and did his duty. Shame on you Mrs Sheehan

Iraq has fought tribal wars for centuries. They are loyal to their tribes---certainly not to a "democracy" that America insists they have. We have destroyed their country, provoked a new civil war, lost thousands of our young men and women, created a new image of the USA by our preimmtive strike----the list goes on.

Most people with any knowledge of history would have known this war could never be won militarily. What a travesty and tragedy we now witness.

I was a life long Republican---now at 71 years of age I am ashamed of this party. It seems to me both political parties are unconcerned regarding loss of human life or bankrupting our country. Their concerns are only for power and being reelected.

I completely agree with J Hill above. I myself have known several military personnel who do what they do because they like fighting for our freedoms. They may not agree with what is being said, however they are fighting for our rights to say what we say. Her lose is a great one, one that can never be replaced. However I think it is disrespectful to your own son to say that he died for nothing.

No one dies for nothing. Each soldier who has died, sacrificed their lives so that we can enjoy the freedoms that we have. A "thank you" is not enough for the brave men/women of the military. May God bless each and everyone of you!

It just amazes me how quick people forget. Personally, I believe that if we don't make a change in that region our Grandchildren won't have a world worth living in.

I do not believe Cindy Sheehan's son died for nothing. Her brave and honest protest against the Iraq war and the present administration galvanized people to protest with her, to become aware of the horrors our soldiers are facing for a cause that does not reflect the true meaning of our constitutional mandate. I, myself, have a close family member doing his second tour in Iraq... It is hell for all of us at home who know this war has been pointless and destructive.

Good riddance.

I find it depressing to see that all the fighting that Cindy Sheehan has done to end the war and bring the troops home has been wasted. She's lost everything in her life to try and change the course of this war and bring better awareness to the rest of this country of what this administration is feeding us. She's sacrificed more than most in this country.

I think she has a point in her comments of soldiers lives are wasted for this war. There's nothing wrong with admiring soldiers who want to serve their country but the fact remains that a soldiers mission is only as honorable as the mission itself. In absolutely no way is this mission, retooled by Bush several times, worth the great loss of American and Iraqi lives and the billions of dollars lost to corruption. A soldier has to follow orders, but if those orders don't improve the situation, i.e. the world, then they are just pawns. Should a soldier fighting for a dictator and told to crush a rebellion be admired and revered. Their not fighting for my freedom. My freedom is given to me by the US constitution and the only people I have to worry about taking it away from me is this administration and Congress.

At least Sheehan recognized the futility and insanity of this war and tried to save lives by brining the soldiers home. Isn't fighting to have sons and daughters alive and with their families something worth fighting for.

That young volunteer's compatriots, with whom he served and sacrificed, continued on after his death. They and thousands like them, before and since, ensure that he die not die in vain.

The cause of freedom has never been, and can never be, about one individual. In the news story, Ms. Sheehan refers to "American Idol" which simply entertainment. Her son's just cause (and that of all our troops) is REAL LIFE and as such counts for virtually everything we have in this country.

Thank you, Ms. Sheehan, for your son's service. He served in an honorable capacity and will be remembered by all of us who realize that FREEDOM IS NOT FREE !!!

Good riddance to Cindy. I'll be glad when I no longer have to listen to or read about her. It is a tragedy she has chosen to disrespect her son's sacrifice and legacy - the very same sacrifice given by soldiers throughout our history that allows her to continue to spew hatred and vitriol without fear of prosecution. If this is no longer the country she loves, I'll be the first to volunteer to help her pack her bags for her flight to Cuba.

Cindy I would like to thank your son for ensuring my personal freedoms. Without people like your son I would not be able to wright this, and you would not have been able to protest the way you did. See how many Iraq protests there are.A lot of people ask why are we at war, I ask in return how did all you people forget 9/11 so quickley. If your so Passionate about this join congress get involved in politics insted of hiding behing falgs & catch phrases. I would like to thank your son & his fellow solders for keeping us safe a little longer.
There are plenty of other countries out there if you dont like ours so much.

Casey did not die in vain....he died defending his mother's right to protest. He died defending a country he loved, and he died assisting others in the world (both our own troops/his coworkers as well as Iraqi's.)

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I am ashamed at how many people have said that the soldiers that have died in Iraq have "Died for nothing." Although it is a very tragic thing to experience we have to realize that they have chosen to serve their country in the most honorable way and in some cases the soldiers die protecting the very freedom so many people take for granted. I for one will not sit by and say nothing while people continue to undermine our troops and the very country they represent! Show some respect to the people who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

If for nothing else, Sheehan's son died for his own honor as a soldier. He fought for something that matters if only he matters. That he died "for nothing" is a view that is possible only for people who are looking past the person of the soldier to see only what matters from their own points of view. When the political situation deserves the "for nothing" judgment, still the individual soldier is a "for something", in and of themselves: for character, for loyalty, for courage, for honor.

I am truly disgusted by people saying Cindy Sheehan should be ashamed of herself. I have no idea what it would be like to lose a son in a war. I have no idea what Casey Sheehan would have felt about his mother's actions. How can people be so quick to judge a woman who has gone through what she has? Do I agree with her actions? No. Do I agree that her son died for nothing? No. Do I believe it is a disservice to our troops to say that? Yes. Do I think Cindy Sheehan should be ashamed of herself? Not for a second.

I met Cindy in 2005. The service she provided for this country is that she exposed Bush's obscene indifference for ordinary Americans, even those who fell fighting for his foreign policy. She also exposed Bush as a shrill, inflexible man, incapable of dealing with the consequences of his own actions.

The biggest service Cindy did for America, though, was to humanize for the American people those who fight to defend us all. Bush and the rest of the Republicans want America to think that soldiers' lives are meaningless, but that their lives are always sacrificed for a good cause. Well, the opposite is true... all of our soldiers are human beings, their lives are to be treasured, and it is possible, easy even, for irresponsible leaders to throw their lives away needlessly.

Cindy reminded America that having a military made up of "disposable people," like Bush wants, is the first step down a very dark path.

None of our soldiers are dying for nothing. They are all out there doing their jobs. And they are doing a great job at what they do!! Thank you to them for it!!

It's amazing the number of mindless platitudes posted here about Sheehan's son dying for our freedoms. Fighting in Iraq is NOT defending any of our freedoms, it only damaging them. This is what Cindy finally and tragically realized - that her country took her son's life for no purpose at all.

Casey Sheehan certainly did die for something - for the strength of his country and its people.

Did he die for friends of Mr. Bush? They may gain, but, no, that’s not why. War is never good, always complex and –sometimes– understandable. War is always executed for reasons intertwined with a country’s best interests – for its economic well being, for its way of life, its growth, for its perceived or real defense.

Was the Civil War about the morality of slavery or the economic advantages that it gave the South over the North? Was the Vietnam War due to our political concern for our French allies or was it war for democracy against the Communists subsequently invited into the North? How big of a role did Japanese, Russian and Middle Eastern oil play in influencing our fighting of World War II compared to Hitler's imperial immorality?

We hope that we fight for what we believe in. But it is never that easy. Casey Sheehan died to defend his country. He died embracing his commitment to our elected leadership. He fought to stop unimaginable inhumanity. He died that we might challenge our leadership and their actions.

I pray that I might die with such nobility of purpose.