Text Of A Speech

by Beth Champman, the Alabama state auditor, given at a Stand Up For America rally:

I'm here tonight because men and women of the United States military have given their lives for my freedom. I am not here tonight because Sheryl Crowe, Rosie O'Donnell, Martin Sheen, George Clooney, Jane Fonda or Phil Donahue, sacrificed their lives for me.

If my memory serves me correctly, it was not movie stars or musicians, but the United States Military who fought on the shores of Iwo Jima, the jungles of Vietnam, and the beaches of Normandy. Tonight, I say we should support the President of the United States and the U.S. Military and tell the liberal, tree-hugging, Birkenstock-wearing, hippy, tie-dyed liberals to go make their movies and music and whine somewhere else.

After all, if they lived in Iraq, they wouldn't be allowed the freedom of speech they're being given here today. Ironically, they would be put to death at the hands of Saddam Hussein or Osama Bin Laden. I want to know how the very people who are against war because of the loss of life, can possibly be the same people who are for abortion? They are the same people who are for animal rights but against the rights of the unborn. The movie stars say they want to go to Iraq and serve as "human shields" for the Iraqis. I say let them buy a one-way ticket and go.

No one likes war. I hate war! But the one thing I hate more is the fact that this country has been forced into war. Innocent people have
lost their lives and there but for the grace of God, it could have been my brother, my husband, or even worse my own son.

On December 7, 1941, there are no records of movie stars treading the blazing waters of Pearl Harbor.

On September 11, 2001; there are no photos of movie stars standing as "human shields" against the debris and falling bodies ascending from the World Trade Center. There were only policemen and firemen - - underpaid civil servants who gave their all with nothing expected in return.

When the USS Cole was bombed, there were no movie stars guarding the
ship. Where were the human shields then?

If America's movie stars want to be human shields, let them shield the gang-ridden streets of Los Angeles, or New York City, let them shield the lives of the children of North Birmingham whose mothers lay them down to sleep on the floor each night to shelter them from stray bullets.

If they want to be human shields, I say let them shield the men and women of honesty and integrity that epitomizes courage and embody the spirit of freedom by wearing the proud uniforms of the United States
Military. Those are the people who have earned and deserve shielding!

Throughout the course of history, this country has remained free, not because of movie stars and liberal activists, but because of brave men and women who hated war too. However, they lay down their lives so that we all may live in freedom. After all - "What greater love hath no man, that he lay down his life for his friend," or in this case a country.

We should give our military honor and acknowledgement and not let their lives be in vain. If you want to see true human shields, walk through Arlington Cemetery. There lie human shields, heroes, and the
BRAVE Americans who didn't get on television and talk about being a human shield - they were human shields.

I thank God tonight for freedom; those who bought and paid for it with their lives in the past, those who will protect it in the present and defend it in the future.

America has remained silent too long! God-fearing people have remained silent too long!

We must lift our voices united in a humble prayer to God for guidance and the strength and courage to sustain us throughout whatever the future may hold.

After the tragic events of September 11th, my then eleven -year-old son said terrorism is a war against them and us and if you're not one of us, then you're one of them.

So in closing tonight, let us be of one accord, let us stand proud,
And let us be the human shields of prayer, encouragement and support for the President, our troops and their families and our country.

May God bless America, the land of the free, the home of the brave and the greatest country on the face of this earth!

Bravo, Ms. Chapman.

News Reports Now

say that Saddam was injured and Uday was killed in the initial bombing.

The Washington Post

reports that Saddam was inside the compound that we hit last night. If this is true, this may account for the lack of massive bombing in Baghdad.

There Is Line

after line of Third Infantry Bradley fighting vehicles crossing into Iraq. Frankly I am in awe.

Unbelievably

the U.S. has built a pipeline from Kuwait to the Iraq border to support vehicle refueling especially the gas guzzling Abrams tank. They also have 350 tanker trucks that carry 5000 gallons each.

Now I'm Hearing That

H3, the huge Iraqi airbase has been taken.

There Are Some

oil wells on fire around Basra but I heard an ABC reporter say that he had passed oil fields that were intact. Hopefully Iraqi troops and oil field workers have defied orders to blow up the wells.

Just Confirmed

that the helicopter crash killed 16 Marines and British troops. The crash was in Kuwait, not Iraq.

Even Though I Am

reporting below that things are not really happening in the air, there is a large ground operation underway. U.S. Marines and British troops are advancing on Basra with little opposition.

ABC Also Reporting

that our government is in contact with "high ranking" military in the Republican Guard who are expressing an "interest" in surrendering.

ABC News Reports

that a Marine CH-46 helicopter has crashed with 16 on board. The military is reporting casualities.

The Most Bizarre Thing

has happened. We hit the leadership early in the morning Baghdad time then nothing happened until the following night when we hit them again with cruise missiles. The giant air war has yet to develop. All the pundits are prophesying that Saddam may have really been killed and our government is in process of negotiating in some manner with what's left of the government. If, by some miracle, we have decapitated the Iraqi government and can get this thing over without major bloodshed it would be a major coup for the U.S.

BBC World

also reports that the strike was against Saddam Hussein and four other key Iraqis.

BBC World

reports that only Tony Blair on the British side knew about this initial attack.

The USS Donald Cook

was one of the launch platforms for Tomahawk missiles that hit Baghdad.

The Local PBS Station

is using BBC World reports. They are staying with the network while local stations are in local news.

How Long

before Iraq uses chemical weapons?

The War Is Over

for CBS and ABC. CBS was back to commercials at 10:00 PM CST.

NBC News Says

Saddam Hussein was the target of the 40 cruise missiles.

ABC Reports

we may attack computer networks that could affect financial markets in Europe.

I'm Surprised That

we haven't used the EMP bombs to disable Iraqi communications.

Would Somebody Please

call Peter Jennings and tell him it's not an F17?

EC-130s Are

broadcasting specific instructions to Iraqi troops what to do to surrender.

Amazingly There Is Still

traffic on the streets of Baghdad. I just saw several guys casually walking on the street as if nothing was happening.

Apparently The Plan Was

to hit a bunker where the leadership was sleeping with cruise missiles then bunker busters from F117s.

Now Peter Jennings

has changed his mind, it's an F17.

The President

is addressing the nation.

Peter Jennings Says

we used B17s in the first gulf war. This one is only minutes old and he's lost it already.

Three Carriers

have launched airplanes.

U.S. Military Radio

has taken over the Iraqi state radio frequency. The bombing probably has taken out the Iraqi transmitters.

CBS News Says

the bombing was to hit a meeting of Iraqi leadership. No way to tell if Saddam was in the meeting.

NBC News

is reporting that this is only a pre-emptive strike and not the shock and awe we could expect. Ari Fleischer has just announced that the president will address the nation at 10:15 EST. His remark was "The disarment of the Iraqi regime has begun."

Baghdad Is Reporting

that there are strange flickering things in the sky overhead. A conversation live from Baghdad by a Skynews reporter says he can hear distant rumbling sounds. The things falling from the sky could be remnants of anti-aircraft shells. CBS news is now talking to their white house reporter who says he knows more than he can report but will report more later. Now the reporter says it is a strike against targets of opportunity i.e. Iraqi leadership. He doesn't know which members the military has located. These are cruise missile strikes.

Senator Byrd Brain

needs to be checked for alzheimers.

The Fighting Has

begun.

Donald Sensing Thinks

bad weather is a plus. His point is well taken because chemical agents are much less effective in a strong wind. I read one report that said winds would lay around dawn Kuwait time tomorrow and the attack may take place around then so the danger may be higher than Donald thinks.

On The Home Front

the ever patriotic Senator Daschle lends his usual "support" to our president.

The Weather In Iraq

isn't co-operating with the first push of war. Sandstorms are pummeling the area causing reduced visibility. The shooting hasn't started yet and may not until the weather improves. Of course, the problem work both ways. If we can't see neither can the Iraqis.

War With Iraq Will Start

this coming Thursday. Our efforts to overcome the Axis Of Weasels, chief among whom is the frog, Jacque Chirac, has not born fruit. President Bush last night gave Saddam 48 hours to clear out of the country or face destruction. Saddam has since rejected that ultimatum so he's set to go up in smoke by weeks end.

Incredibly, the frogs have decided that since we won't do their bidding, they should try to get into the act.

France's ambassador to the United States, Jean-David Levitte, said Paris could yet join U.S.-led action if Iraq used biological and chemical weapons, saying such a move would "change the situation completely and immediately."

What a bunch of unmitigated crap.