(Thank you, Congresswoman, for your leadership on this issue!! – promoted by Todd Beeton)

Friends,

A couple of weeks ago I wrote, regarding the House vote against the escalation, that to “oppose the escalation is an important first step, but it must be the beginning of our debate, not the end.”  Today, I wanted to take a moment to follow up on that post, and make my position clear – the only money I will support for Iraq is funding that is used for the withdrawal of every last US soldier and military contractor from Iraq.

Our soldiers are dying in Iraq because President Bush refuses to recognize that it’s time to bring our troops home, his is a position that has been overwhelmingly rejected by the American public.  Democrats were elected in November in conservative districts across the country so that we could find an end to the war, and now the majority of the American public supports a time-bound withdrawal plan that ensures that our troops return home in a safe and orderly fashion [link to poll].  It’s time to end our military occupation of Iraq, and it’s time to fully fund our withdrawal.

Conservatives have tried to portray the progressive position as one of cutting off funding for our troops in the field, and many have questioned our patriotism.  Others have gone so far as to claim that we are working against our men and women in harm’s way.  Nothing could be further from the truth, and we must stand up and confront their lies.

A fully funded withdrawal would ensure that our military commanders have any and all resources available to them to bring our troops home, while providing for their security during the process.  This isn’t about cutting funding, this about providing the resources for an orderly withdrawal, allowing our troops to come home to their families, and for our military to regroup, and stand prepared to defend our country if, and when, we are truly faced with a threat to our national security.

-Lynn

(Cross-posted from The Courage Campaign)

Rep. Lynn Woolsey (CA-06), with the support of Rep. Barbara Lee (CA-09) and Rep. Maxine Waters (CA-35), today introduced HR 508, The Bring Our Troops Home and Sovereignty of Iraq Restoration Act.

Follow me over the flip for a look at what the bill would accomplish, per Rep. Woolsey's diary over at dKos:

1. Withdraw all U.S. troops and military contractors from Iraq within six months from date of enactment.

2. Prohibit any further funding to deploy, or continue to deploy U.S. troops in Iraq. The bill does, however, allow for funding to be used, as needed, to ensure a safe withdrawal of all US military personnel and contractors, diplomatic consultations. Funding may also be used for the increased training and equipping of Iraqi and international security forces.

3. Accelerate, during the six month transition, training of a permanent Iraqi security force.

4. Authorize, if requested by the Iraqi government, U.S. support for an international stabilization force. Such a force would be funded for no longer than two years, and be combined with economic and humanitarian assistance.

5. Guarantee full health care funding, including mental health, for U.S. veterans of military operations in Iraq and other conflicts.

6. Rescind the Congressional Authorization for the War in Iraq.

7. Prohibit the construction of permanent US military bases in the country.

8. Finally, we believe that Iraqi oil belongs to the Iraqis. Once the oil is in the international market, the U.S. will certainly have access to our share. That’s why our bill ensures that the U.S. has no long-term control over Iraqi oil.

Thank you, Reps. Woolsey, Lee, Waters and all that are supporting this bill. Contact them below to let them know they have your support:

Rep. Woolsey

Rep. Lee

Rep. Waters