O'BRIEN:
Thousands of antiwar protesters are showing support for Cindy Sheehan this
morning. Solidarity vigils were held from coast to coast last night. Sheehan's
son, Casey, was killed in Iraq. His name is on one of the white crosses put up
in Crawford, Texas. Those crosses were knocked down briefly, then put back up.
Debbie Argel Bastian's son, Derrick, was also killed in Iraq. And she objects to
his name being used in a similar memorial in California.
Debbie Argel Bastian joins us now from Pensacola.
Good to have you with us this morning.
DEBBIE ARGEL BASTIAN, SON DIED IN IRAQ: Thank you.
O'BRIEN: What concerns did you have when you heard that your son's name was on
one of these crosses, not in Crawford, a different location, but a similar kind
of thing? What were your concerns?
BASTIAN: Because our family had no choice in the matter. My son, Derrick, fully
believed that everyone has the right to protest and express their opinion. But
our family very much objects to the fact that, you know, after my son's death,
that his name be used in this way. He would never have participated in any sort
of an antiwar protest.
And it's our understanding that there is a name on the cross -- on a cross in
Crawford, Texas, as well. It came up on a Web site.
My son was very much in favor of President Bush and the Bush administration, and
had great respect for him as commander-in-chief. Derrick was a special escort
for Mrs. Bush when she made her trip to Iraq and Afghanistan, and for the
president and for the U.S. ambassador to Iraq. And it's just inappropriate not
to ask the families.
O'BRIEN: And you, in the case of the California memorial, you asked for and they
removed that particular cross. Will you do the same for the Crawford cross? Are
you going to try to reach out and get them to take your son's name off the cross
or remove that particular cross?
BASTIAN: Our family would very respectfully request that my son's name be
removed from all of these antiwar memorials. And that is exactly what they are.
They have claimed that they're not an antiwar outfit, but that is definitely an
antiwar protest going on across from President Bush's ranch.
O'BRIEN: What are your thoughts in general, taking this specific instance of
this cross out of the picture for just a moment, what are your thoughts in
general about Cindy Sheehan's cause down there? As a mother who has lost a son,
you must -- you clearly have some empathy for her plight?
BASTIAN: Oh, I certainly do. I mean, this is very new for us. My son's plane
went down on Memorial Day. So this is just two-and-a- half months-old for us. I
very much sympathize with Ms. Sheehan and her loss, and all of the other parents
and wives and brothers and sisters who have lost a loved one in Iraq. But I'm --
I really am not clear about what her purpose is.
And although I sympathize with her, you know, as a mother that's grieving, I
don't see that this is boosting the morale for the troops that we have left over
there. I think they need all of our support, and they don't need to see antiwar
protests coming out of their -- out of their country right now.
O'BRIEN: Of course, one of Cindy Sheehan's stated goals is simply to meet with
the president. Do you think the president should meet with her?
BASTIAN: No. I don't see that it would do any good. If the president set a
precedent for meeting with each of us that has lost a loved one in Iraq the
president simply would not be able to do his job. Ms. Sheehan has met with the
president one time. And, you know to be very candid, I don't think that the
administration or our men, our troops and men and women in uniform are going to
be pulling out of Iraq simply because Ms. Sheehan requests it.
O'BRIEN: Has the president personally expressed his condolences to you and your
family?
BASTIAN: Yes, they have.
O'BRIEN: And did you find that to be enough?
BASTIAN: Yes. You know, I reiterate, my son worked from the time that he was in
fifth grade to get to the Air Force Academy, to get to an academy. He went
through two prep schools, worked very, very hard. And we haven't had a draft in
this country since Vietnam. He raised his right hand and swore allegiance to the
United States of America and meant whatever that took, that that's what he would
do. And my son died doing his job.
O'BRIEN: Debbie Argel Bastian thank you very much for your time.
BASTIAN: Thank you.