Sheehan protest is back on track

A day after she returned to the helm of a protest against President Bush's policy in Iraq, Cindy Sheehan expressed satisfaction Thursday about the peace movement she helped invigorate.

"When I left, it thrived, and it grew, and it's because I'm not alone," said the 48-year-old mother of Casey Sheehan, who was killed last year while serving in Iraq. "I'm not the only one who wants answers to these questions."

With the exception of a week by the bedside of her mother who had a stroke, Sheehan has kept a vigil at Bush's ranch since August 6. She hopes to question him about the reasons for the U.S. invasion of Iraq and to urge an immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces.

Sheehan is a founding member of Gold Star Families for Peace, an anti-war group led by relatives of fallen troops, reports CNN.

Sheehan began her vigil Aug. 6 on the road leading to Bush's ranch, vowing to stay through his monthlong vacation unless he met with her. She left last week to visit her 74-year-old mother in Los Angeles after the woman suffered a stroke.

Sheehan said she realizes that Bush has no intentions of meeting with the protesters, but that her vigil has accomplished other things.

"It's worthwhile because we've galvanized the peace movement," she said. "We've started people talking about the war again."

Sheehan's protest in Crawford has encouraged antiwar activists to join her and prompted peace vigils nationwide. She also continues to draw harsh criticism, informs The Boston Globe.