Support Iraq troop withdrawal in Senate

Mar 13, 2007

Dear Friend,

"When members [of Congress] speak not of victory but of time limits, deadlines and other arbitrary measures, they are telling the enemy simply to watch the clock and wait us out," said Vice President Dick Cheney yesterday in a speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Cheney was objecting to Democratic efforts to force the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has introduced a measure that would require the President to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq within 120 days of adoption of the legislation and establish a goal of pulling out most troops from Iraq by March 31, 2008.

Please call your Senators toll-free at 866-340-9281 and tell them to support the Reid resolution (S.J. Res. 9) and to support the motion to debate this measure.

Cheney and Senate Republicans who oppose Reid’s resolution are significantly out of step with the American people. A USA Today-Gallup poll released last Thursday found that an overwhelming 60 percent of respondents favored setting a timeline for removing all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2008.

The Reid resolution has strong Democratic support with 42 sponsors, but more Democratic and Republican support is needed to ensure its passage. This is the first time that so many Senators have endorsed binding legislation to begin a troop withdrawal. But it will take 60 votes – including those of at least 11 Republicans – to begin the debate.

Pressure on Republican Senators is especially crucial as Republicans are likely to try to use procedural maneuvers to block any debate, as they did last month when they prevented a vote opposing President Bush’s escalation of the war in Iraq.

Please call your Senators toll-free at 866-340-9281 and tell them to support the Reid resolution (S.J. Res. 9) and to support the motion to debate this measure.

With the introduction of the Reid resolution, the congressional debate now revolves around the question of when -- not whether -- to withdraw. This legislation is an important step in the process of ending the disastrous American military involvement in Iraq.

The Reid resolution is not as strong as proposals advanced by progressives in the House of Representatives, but it is a major step towards pressuring the Bush Administration and Senate Republicans to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is expected to offer a motion on Wednesday, March 14 to begin debate on the Senate’s measure on troop withdrawal so your call today is especially important.

Please call your Senators toll-free at 866-340-9281 and tell them to support the Reid resolution (S.J. Res. 9) and to support the motion to debate this measure.

Sincerely,

John Isaacs and Guy Stevens

P.S. Help spread the word and end the war in Iraq! Please forward this email on to five friends and tell them to call their Senators too.