Keep the Heat on Congress (share with friends)

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Keep Contacting Congressmembers/Senators. . .
in Home Districts and on the Hill

It’s crunch time.

For those of us who’ve been working for years to bring our troops home from Iraq, these are crucial weeks. . . now that both the U.S. House and Senate have passed legislation for withdrawal of combat troops by varying dates in 2008. We in the antiwar movement brought this about – including our friends in the Congressional Progressive Caucus and coalitions like United for Peace & Justice (UFPJ).

But we can’t relax. Both House and Senate versions of the Iraq Supplemental Funding bill are flawed. The “deadlines” are too far off (a non-binding March 31, 2008 in the Senate; Sept 1, 2008 in the House) and far too soft -- allowing thousands of U.S. troops to stay in Iraq for vaguely-defined “training” and “anti-terrorism” missions. And they allocate yet another $100 billion toward the unwinnable occupation.

The good news is that President Bush and the Republicans stand exposed as having no strategy except “stay the course” and “the situation in Iraq is improving.” Bush has repeatedly threatened to veto any bill with even weak timelines. This puts him in conflict with the American public, who want all troops home within a year, according to polls.

Let’s force Bush’s hand. Let’s make him veto it.

Which means we can’t let Democrats in the House and Senate weaken the Supplemental further behind closed doors.

This is the time to make appointments with your Congress members and Senators in their home district offices: Many are home now because the House is in recess through April 15, the Senate through April 9. And leave polite yet forceful messages in emails, faxes or calls to their D.C. staff (Congressional switchboard is 1-202-224-3121.)

The Senate and House will be appointing a conference committee to write a compromise Iraq supplemental bill – which could be voted on as early as April 16. “The antiwar movement must insist,” says the UFPJ coalition, “that what comes out of the conference committee is a compromise between what the House and Senate passed, not a compromise with what Bush wants.”

Our overriding demand – in line with the public will expressed in November’s election and recent polling – remains that Congress should push for fully-funded, complete withdrawal within a year. Anything short of that is already a compromise. There’s no room for further compromise with Bush!

That’s our message to Congress, in public protests and in letters-to-the-editor. Standing firm will force a veto from Bush. People will see that “Bush’s Veto Pen Kills Troops.”

U.S. military force is no solution in Iraq. Most Iraqis want U.S. troops out of their country.

When you communicate with Congress members, you should also advocate legislative measures to prevent an attack on Iran, and to renounce any interest in permanent bases in Iraq. Such issues will be “on the table” in a matter of weeks as Congress starts debating Defense Authorization and Defense Appropriations bills.

Click here for a toolkit on meetings with Congress members (and added info on Iran). http://wikiran.wetpaint.com/page/In+District+Lobby+Days

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