Petraeus is Talking to Congress: Are You?

Sep 10, 2007

Dear Friend,

Petraeus will talk to Congress today. Will you?

Our nation is on the verge of an important debate on the Iraq war.

Please write to your Senators and Representative and tell them the time has come to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq.

President Bush and his top advisors are scheduled to report to Congress this week on the success or failure of this year's increase of 30,000 troops in Iraq. A number of independent reports and congressional hearings have set the stage for today's much anticipated report to Congress by General David Petraeus, commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, and U.S. ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker.

President Bush and other supporters of the war are desperately trying to paint a false picture of how military operations are unfolding. Just as with the Vietnam War three decades ago, the Administration claims that we have turned the corner and there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Many Members of Congress are being taken in by the White House's PR offensive -- and will vote to continue the war indefinitely. Congress is expected to vote on measures to end the war between mid-September and October.

It is crucial that you send a message right now to your Senators and Representative that it is time to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq.

In a report released September 4, the Government Accountability Office, the non-partisan investigative arm of Congress, confirmed that the Iraqi government has failed to fully meet 15 of 18 benchmarks set by Congress to measure economic, military, and political progress in Iraq.

In another recent report, 92% of surveyed foreign policy experts agreed that the war in Iraq is harming U.S. national security. With the price tag for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan now set to reach at least $800 billion, the costs in American lives and international prestige increase every day we stay in Iraq.

Even if your Senators and Representative have views similar to yours, it is critical that you communicate the intensity of your opposition to this misguided war.

President Bush's horrible folly has gone on too long. It is time to end the war now.

Sincerely,

John Isaacs    Guy Stevens