As we send this, President Bush is telling the nation that he plans to send more than 20,000 additional young men and women to Iraq. Some of them will die or be injured for a failed policy of war.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have pledged that Congress will vote on resolutions that would oppose a troop surge. This decision is an important first step for which they should be commended.
Unfortunately, President Bush could decide to ignore even a majority of Congress and push ahead with a dangerous escalation.
Please sign this petition to thank leaders in Congress for agreeing to take a position, urging them to do so quickly and then pass legislation enforcing their stand.
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/involved/nomoretroops.htmlThere are several ways Congress can prevent the President from increasing troop levels in Iraq. Senator Carl Levin has pointed out they could cap the number of troops or require the President to get Congressional approval for any increase.
Senator Edward Kennedy and Rep. Ed Markey are introducing legislation that would prevent the President from using funds to increase troop levels in Iraq without Congressional approval. Similar action was taken by Congress in the early 1970s when President Richard Nixon moved to extend the Vietnam War into Cambodia. By adopting the Cooper-Church amendment to a funding bill, Congress banned US troops from operating in Cambodia and Laos.
Rep. Dennis Kucinich advocates refusing to provide any more money for the war and using existing resources, which are large, to bring the troops home.
Sign the petition now to ask Congress to take the next step and consider one of these actions. If you have already signed, please forward it to five or more friends.
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/nomoretroops.htmlPresident Bush is planning a surge of troops to Iraq against the advice of many of his military commanders, as the Washington Post reports today. Troop surges have already been tried in Iraq and have failed. The Iraq Study Group, far from endorsing more soldiers, advocated a gradual withdrawal of combat troops.
Bush has ignored the military and the American people. Fortunately, if he tries to ignore Congress, they have the power to enforce their position. Sign the petition and urge Congress to take this needed step.
Also, Thursday, people are getting together across the country to rally against this escalation. Can you join them? The "America Says NO" website lets you find a rally near you.
Thanks for all you do for a just foreign policy