JOIN VFP'S NEW CAMPAIGN TO STOP DEPLOYMENTS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND BRING THE GUARD HOME!

[unhappycamper]

http://www.veteransforpeace.org/Bring_national_guard_home.vp.html



JOIN VFP'S NEW CAMPAIGN TO STOP DEPLOYMENTS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND BRING THE GUARD HOME!

We all know that our National Guard was never intended to be a front line fighting force for indefinite combat operations, and that the last 6 years has decimated our National Guard's ability to respond to national emergencies.

The "Bring the Guard Home" campaign is a nation-wide effort to pass state-based legislation/resolutions which prohibit Guard units from deploying to Iraq or Afghanistan. The basic premise of this campaign is that it recognizes that there is no existing Presidential authority for deploying Guard units to Iraq/Afghanistan. The mission for which Congress authorized the use of military force no longer exists. Unless that Authorization is reissued, or Congress declares war, it is actually illegal to continue deploying National Guard units to Iraq and Afghanistan.

The following states have active campaigns which have already introduced or will soon introduce state legislation: Vermont, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, New York, Wisconsin and Oregon. A new website will be up very soon, but in the meantime, go to: http://www.libertytreefdr.org/event.php?event_id=147 for links to state campaign websites, media releases, publicity fliers, articles and FAQs about the campaign. This campaign is rapidly gaining strength, but we need the help of VFP in building organization across the country, but especially in the following states: Minnesota, California, Alaska, Washington, Illinois, Louisiana, Indiana, Florida, Georgia, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, North Carolina, Georgia, Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan, Texas, and Mississippi.

The following organizations have endorsed the "Bring the Guard Home" campaign: AfterDowningStreet.org, Cities for Peace, CodePink, Courage to Resist, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Liberty Tree Foundation for the Democratic Revolution, Military Families Speak Out, Peace Action, Progressive Democrats of America, United for Peace and Justice, U.S. Labor Against the War, Women Legislator's Lobby and Women's Action for New Directions. A resolution to support the "Bring the Guard Home" campaign was passed unanimously at the National Convention in August 2008. Now it's time for VFP to step up and get involved!

What can you do?

1. Find out if your state has an active campaign. If so, contact them and get involved with petitioning, lobbying state legislators, and educating your community.

2. If your state does not have an active campaign, contact the organizers at Liberty Tree who can put you in contact with leads, or seek out members of the other sponsoring organizations in your state.

3. Follow the progress of the Campaign in other states via the website, and the National Steering Committee.

4. Join the cause: "Bring the Guard Home (It's the Law)" on Face Book, and recruit others to the cause.

5. Talk to candidates running for State Senator and State Representative about this issue. Find out where they stand.

For more information about what you or your chapter can do to help with the Bring the Guard Home Campaign, contact Leah Bolger, Chapter 132, Corvallis Oregon, [e-mail] or 541-207-7761.

[Peace Patriot]

1. I'm glad for this campaign! It has pissed me off no end that our National Guards

were sent to Iraq!

GO, VFP!