He Said, You Said

[rodeodance]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: He Said, You Said
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 12:22:29 -0500
From: Sen. Ted Kennedy <[e-mail]>
To: xxxx




Dear xxx,

Just who is President Bush listening to?

It's not his generals on the front line -- leaders like former Central Command head John Abizaid, who said he does "not believe that more American troops right now is the solution to the problem."

It's not independent experts like the bipartisan Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study Group, which concluded that "the United States must not make an open-ended commitment to keep large numbers of American troops deployed in Iraq."

According to Vice President Cheney last Sunday, it won't be Congress -- because the United States "cannot run a war by committee."

But there's one group determined to make their voices heard: Americans like you. So far, more than 80,000 citizens have signed our petition demanding that the people's representatives in Congress vote on the Administration's plan to escalate the war in Iraq.

Looking through the comments that poured in from across the country, I'm reminded of what's at stake as we consider our next steps in Iraq. The nonbinding resolutions proposed by my colleagues aren't enough. We need real action -- binding legislation -- that forces this president to present his plan for success to Congress before any escalation has taken place.

The comments we've received show powerful support for our cause -- but they only represent a small portion of the millions of Americans who oppose the escalation. Send our petition to friends and families and other escalation opponents - and ask them to make their voices heard, too:

http://www.tedkennedy.com/realaction

President Bush is trying to convince the public that any disagreement with his position puts our troops in harm's way. As he said in his weekly radio address, "Our brave troops should not have to wonder if their leaders in Washington will give them what they need."

Shame on him. His administration and his Republican Congress sent these troops to war without adequate body armor and other protections. His decision to strain our armed forces even further only adds to the danger.

What our troops need most is a President who will listen to the families of those he's put in harm's way. Here are four of their comments:

"My son is stationed in Al Taji Iraq. I have a lot at stake. My son's life. We do not have to come out of this losers. We have won this war and the battle. Bring them home now."
-- Tim from Minneapolis, MN

"I do not support an escalation of troops in Iraq! Please do not send another soldier to risk his/her life for the civil war of Iraq! My son is a servicemember and I do not support him giving his life for a war that has no military resolution!"
-- Mary from Santa Cruz, CA

"My son spent over a year in Iraq and I know the terror our servicemen and women's families are living with every day. Hearing there are casualties and wondering if it is my loved one and then the feeling of relief when you get a call or e-mail from them, followed by guilt because you know some other mother is getting the news her son or daughter is dead or injured. This war has and is destroying so many lives it must be stopped now."
-- Jane from Estero, FL

"President Bush, with all due respect, a role of the Commander-in-Chief is to fight battles to protect his country. The battles must have a concrete mission, and exit strategy. Even my son, serving in the Marines/SOCOM agrees the war has no defined purpose. He's confused about fighting for his country and being an occupier of a nation that doesn't want him there."
-- Larry from Englewood, CO

This "escalation" or "surge" is more than a game of words -- it affects the lives of tens of thousands of families like these, who don't want their sons and daughters sent to a war that can't be won with tanks and guns.

There are so many stories out there that echo the feelings of these courageous family members. Read them for yourself, send them to friends and family, and ask them to hold the President accountable for his war:

http://www.tedkennedy.com/realaction

This is no time for symbolic opposition. By escalating the war, we are repeating the colossal blunders of the Vietnam War. Thousands more of our men and women in uniform will pay the ultimate price for this mistake. Act now -- there is still time to prevent it.

Sincerely,

Senator Edward M. Kennedy