Congress set to analyse White House report on Iraq, General Petraeus will only testify
 
Date: Wed, 5 Sep 2007 23:31:26 -0500 (CDT)


Given the importance of this oversight action, and the rhetoric spouted by the Bush administration on Iran -- now is a pivotal time to TAKE ACTION.  Join the nationwide effort to flood the offices of our member of Congress with calls demanding an end to the U.S. war in Iraq and no new war with Iran.

Call your Representative and both Senators on Thursday, September 6th.  The number for the Congressional switchboard is:  202.224.3121. 

Tell them:   I want you to act now to end the war and occupation of Iraq and to prevent a war with Iran.
Congress has the Constitutional right and a moral responsibility to use the power of the purse to withdraw all U.S. soldiers and contractors from Iraq on a rapid and binding schedule.   
Congress must act to prevent a catastrophic war with Iran, and speak out against the Bush Administration's reckless escalation of rhetoric and provocative actions against Iran.
 
Not sure who represents you in Congress?  
Look Here: capwiz.com/fconl/directory/congdir.tt?action=myreps_form
 
Background:
Iraq Spending:
In September, Congress will focus on Iraq. They will vote on the President's request for continued funding of the war. At this writing, the request stands at $142 billion, but Bush will probably increase it to over $190 billion! Congress is not required to give Bush any of this money, or even to bring the request to a vote. Congress can also put restrictions, firm withdrawal time lines and other conditions on any funding in order to force an end to the U.S. occupation of Iraq. 
 
Iran: 
On August 28, President Bush announced that he has authorized US forces in Iraq to confront Iran militarily. "I have authorized our military commanders in Iraq to confront Tehran's murderous activities," Bush said in a speech to US war veterans in Reno. Simultaneously, US forces raided a hotel in Baghdad and detained ten Iranians who were part of a delegation that had been invited to Iraq to help with reconstruction.

The harshness and frequency of the rhetoric has steadily increased. Last week the Bush administration announced its intention to designate the IRGC as a terrorist entity, an unprecedented move. This week in Reno, the President reiterated accusations that Iran was smuggling weapons into Iraq while chastising the Iraqi prime minister for his diplomatic relations with Iran. Left unchallenged, all these steps point in one, undeniable direction: War.

The recent moves follow a familiar pattern. In January 2007, the President accused Iran of supplying IED's to Iraqi insurgents, signaling his intention to use military force to attack Iran. Simultaneously, US forces detained five Iranians at an Iranian consulate in the Iraqi city of Irbil. Congress successfully averted crisis through swift and strong reactions to the escalated rhetoric. Congress took immediate action by challenging the President to provide evidence for the claims.

Now, as the White House is once again escalating tensions, Congress must act to prevent war from occurring.

In Peace,

Barbra J. Bearden
Communication Associate,
Peace Action

P.S.
We've been nominated for the Peace Primary.  It's truly an honor to be among the 12 organizations nominated for this prize.  The 10,000 dollar award would truly be an extraordinary gift to the work we do.  You can nominate Peace Action on the contest website:  http://www.peaceprimary.org/.  It's just a dollar a vote -- I spend that on American Idol!