(You bet it is! – promoted by Lucas O’Connor)

Crossposted at DailyKos

Friends,

Over four years ago President Bush misled our country into a bloody and costly occupation of Iraq.  Four years later, you have the power to end it.

For four years those of us in the progressive movement, in Congress, online, and in the streets, have stood firm in our opposition to the President’s failed occupation.  We have been called traitors; we have been accused of not supporting the troops; and some have even questioned our patriotism.  But four years later our voices have now become part of the mainstream position held by the majority of Americans.

And most importantly, today, we have the power to bring them home.

This afternoon the Congress will bring up H.R. 2237, a bill, which would ensure that the only money this Congress approves for Iraq would be used to fully-fund the safe and orderly withdrawal of our soldiers.  The Progressive Caucus has been for fighting for months to advance such a bill, both behind the scenes (link to relevant article -check Roll Call from March), and right in the open (link to floor speech), and finally we have our opportunity.  Back in February we even made it part of our official platform (link to CPC site).

So please, stop whatever you are doing, take two minutes, and call your Representative right away.  Tell them to support a fully funded withdrawal of our soldiers from Iraq, and to vote for H.R. 2237.

We must fully-fund the withdrawal

We must fully fund the reconstruction

But we cannot fund this President’s occupation any longer.

Thank you for your help

-Lynn

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(I hope so. – promoted by atdleft)

Friends,

Starting this morning the House will begin to debate the moral issue of our times – our continued military occupation of Iraq.  My colleagues and I will have the opportunity to vote on President Bush’s escalation – a failed policy from the start, which will only deepen our engagement in the Iraq, and increase the cost to our country in lives, limb and treasury.  The American public has already overwhelmingly voiced their opposition to the President’s plan, and now it is our turn, and our responsibility to have our voices heard.

I will support this week’s effort, and will cast my vote against the President’s proposed escalation, but you all know that I will not stop there, and neither should my colleagues. 

To oppose the escalation is an important first step, but it must be the beginning of our debate, not the end.  Even if we succeeded in preventing President Bush’s escalation we would be left with an unacceptable status quo – over one hundred thousand of our brave men and women still in harm’s way, and a continued military occupation that is fueling the insurgency.  Let me be clear, we must do more than oppose the President’s escalation, we must bring our troops home.

As many of you know I have proposed legislation that would do just that.  H.R. 508 would bring our troops home within six months, provide economic, humanitarian and diplomatic aid to help the Iraqis rebuild their country, and care for those who have sacrificed themselves for their country by funding the VA as an entitlement, not another program to be funded at the whim of this President.  Others in Congress have put forth their own legislation, and after we have debated and voted on the President’s plan, it’s time that the Congress debate and voted on a plan, and H.R. 508 is the comprehensive plan we need.

You have been with me since the beginning, and your phone calls and letters have helped to move this debate.  Your actions have held your representatives accountable, and you continue to hold President Bush accountable for his disaster in Iraq. 

Thank you – keep it up.

-Lynn

( – promoted by SFBrianCL)

Friends,

Over 2,650 lives, and more than $300 billion later, the occupation of Iraq remains one of the greatest leadership failures of our time. President Bush failed to find any WMD’s, failed to be honest about the invasion, failed to use a sound military strategy, failed the people of Iraq, and perhaps most importantly, failed us, the American public.

His vendetta in Iraq has cost our country our sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters, husbands and wives. While children struggle to learn in crumbling schools, and families are forced to find a way to put food on their tables, this occupation has cost our country the ability to address our real national priorities.

$300 billion could have fixed our schools, secured our ports and provided health care to millions in need. 2,650 people could have supported their families and enriched our great country.  Intelligence experts and other Pentagon officials could have concentrated on finding Osama bin Laden.

On Tuesday, September 26th, I will be holding a Congressional forum on the cost of the continuing occupation of Iraq. This is the third such forum that I have held on the subject of Iraq over the past year.  Each time bringing our troops home has been a focal point.

When I spoke up in January of 2005, I was the first member of Congress to call for withdrawal, but I was certainly not alone. While the politicians in Washington were too afraid, or too blind, to support a call for a withdrawal, I was joined by many of you throughout the country, who were leading the grassroots effort against this unjust war.

On Tuesday I will be joined by a number of my colleagues, and expert witnesses will speak to the different costs of this war, including Lt. General William Odom (who served as the Director of the NSA under President Reagan) and Dr. Paul Pillar (a 30 year veteran of the CIA).

So far the mainstream media has failed to seriously cover these forums, preventing the American public from participating in an honest debate on this crucial subject, that’s why I need you to help me reach out, and I urge all of you to join in this debate. Politicstv.com will be providing coverage of our hearing, starting later in the afternoon on Tuesday. We are hoping that C-Span will cover the event live. And you can read the full testimony of all of our experts on my website at www.woolsey.house.gov afterwards. While we will have limited space in the room for members of the public, I would like to extend an invitation to any bloggers in the DC area who would like to attend. You can contact my office at 202-225-6101 for information on getting there and getting in, and to reserve a space.

As the American public, and those here in Congress, realize just how costly a mistake the occupation has been, it is more important than ever that we keep up the pressure.  Please join me in this important debate.

-Lynn