Friends Committee on National Legislation – 2007-04-26 22:40:03
http://capwiz.com/fconl/issues/alert/?alertid=9681491
Legislative Action Message:
WASHINGTON (April 26, 2007) — Congress has just approved the first legislation requiring the US to begin withdrawing its troops from Iraq by a date certain. The president has said he will veto this legislation, because he disagrees with the provision for eventual withdrawal.
We believe that the president is not in touch with reality. Please write to President Bush today to appeal to him to face reality and to urge him to reconsider his promised veto.
Give him a dose of reality today. He should know that the people of this country insist on a change in US policy in Iraq and will mobilize popular opposition to this awful, failed war, until the last US troops have left Iraq.
Next Tuesday, May 1, is the fourth anniversary of the president’s declaration of “Mission Accomplished” in Iraq. The weekly death toll in Iraq – for both Iraqis and US soldiers – is growing. Not one more dollar, not one more drop of blood should be spent on this war. The US should not send more soldiers off to Iraq to die.
As is often the case, we at FCNL don’t like the vehicle Congress has chosen to make this policy change. The bill containing the US troop withdrawal provision also provides over $100 billion more for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and we oppose any funding for war. But a majority in Congress isn’t there yet.
We believe insisting that new funding, at least, should be contingent upon a date certain for the withdrawal of US troops is an important step along the road to changing US policy. Congress rarely, if ever, takes radical measures; it is an incremental institution. We have to move members of Congress by increments through continuing, assertive, legislative action to turn them around. Your grassroots work is indispensable.
A great deal of work remains to change US policy towards Iraq, especially if the president vetoes the legislation because of the troop withdrawal provisions. The president needs to hear, again and again, that people in this country want a change in policy, members of Congress needs to hear that you expect them to act, and more people need to speak out in favor of troop withdrawal. Writing to the president today helps advance our strategy for this change process.
Take Action
Please send an urgent message to President Bush (http://capwiz.com/fconl/issues/alert/?alertid=9681491) today. Let him know that you want a change in US policy towards Iraq, beginning with a date for the withdrawal of US troops. Send copies of your letter to your senators and representative. Encourage them to keep working on this provision, even if the president vetoes the bill. And, thank you for your steadfast work on this issue.
Background
The US presence in Iraq is the problem, not the solution. The US military presence and occupation of Iraq fuels the armed insurgency, prevents political solutions, and, as the National Intelligence Estimate reported last year, has been a boon to al Qaeda recruiters. President Bush is doing just what the violent extremists want him to do. We need to get him off their team; he’s shooting baskets in the opponents hoop.
• Read updates on the FCNL’s Iraq Peace Campaign
(http://www.fcnl.org/iraq/)
• Read more about what FCNL’s chief Iraq lobbyist Jim Fine believes will happen
(http://www.fcnl.org/issues/item.php?item_id=2578&issue_id=35)
Urge Five Friends to Act
Congress has just approved the first legislation requiring the US to begin withdrawing its troops from Iraq. The president has said he is going to veto this legislation. Please ask your friends to join in writing to President Bush today and urge him to reconsider.
It’s time to let the White House know that the people of this country insist on a change in US policy in Iraq and that we will mobilize popular opposition to this awful, failed war, until the last US troops have left Iraq.
Contacting Legislators
Contact your members of Congress through FCNL’s web site.
Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
Sen. ________
US Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Rep. ________
US House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
FCNL’s Congressional Directory
Contacting the Administration
White House Comment Desk:
202-456-1111
Fax: 202-456-2461
White House web site
President George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
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