From Gold Star Families for Peace:
Peace in Iraq Call-In Day
Monday, April 24
800-620-4394
Tell the Senate -
Not one penny more for the War!
No permanent U.S. bases in Iraq!
On Tuesday, April 25, the Senate will take up the supplemental spending bill for 2006. The current proposal includes $67 billion more for the wars in Iraq and Afganistan. It is expected that the Senate will pass the spending bill easily.
How many innocent Iraqis must die, how many young Americans? How much more destruction, pain and hatred before the Congress finds the will to end this war?
On Monday, April 24, let your Senators hear your anger and disgust. Tell them to stop funding this immoral war based on lies!
It is imperative that the Senate hear this message from you.
But there is also another important message for you to deliver.
We expect that as part of the vote on the supplemental spending bill, the Senate will also have an opportunity to weigh in on the question of U.S. permanent bases in Iraq. There is growing support in the Senate for an amendment to the supplemental which will prohibit permanent U.S. bases. Call your Senator to tell them to support any amendments that will prohibit permanent bases.
Our "not one penny more for war" call-in day to the House of Representatives last month was a great success. The number of Representatives voting against the war funding rose to 71, AND the House approved an amendment against permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq.
We want to repeat that success in the Senate. If we are unable to stop the funding request from passing, we can at least make sure that an amendment against permanent bases is attached.
Take Action Now!
Help flood the Senate with phone calls on Monday, April 24. Ask your Senators to vote against the
supplemental spending bill.
Ask your Senators to support any amendment that would prohibit permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq.
Call the Capitol switchboard toll-free at 800-620-4394,
ask for your Senator by name.
Find out who your senators are
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=112308790&url_num=1&url=http://capwiz.com/fconl/directory/congdir.tt.Tips on making your call
* Don't get discouraged if you get a busy signal - it means the call-in day is working! Try again in a few minutes.
* If you do get a repeated busy signal, you can call your Senators' offices directly. Look up your senators' numbers -
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=112308790&url_num=2&url=http://capwiz.com/fconl/directory/congdir.tt.Script for your call
* My name is
, and I live in . I am a member of . Thanks for taking my call.
* I understand the full Senate will consider the president's emergency supplemental request for additional funding for the war in Iraq very soon.
* I would like the Senator to vote against this additional funding for the war. AND
* I would like the Senator to sponsor an amendment to this legislation stating "it is policy of the U.S. to establish no permanent military bases in Iraq." Can you tell me if that will be possible?
Background
Members of Congress are turning the president's fiscal year 2006 (FY06) request for emergency supplemental funding to support the war in Iraq (H.R. 4939) into a vehicle for challenging the direction of U.S. policy in Iraq.
The House already amended this legislation, March 15, to include language that states "None of the funds in this Act may be used by the U.S. government to enter into a basing rights agreement between the United States and Iraq."
The powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, on April 4, cut $177 million in funding for long-term military construction projects from the FY06 supplemental appropriations bill. The Senate Appropriations Committee wrote in the report that accompanied this bill: "It is the current policy of the United States to establish no permanent military bases in Iraq" and "While these projects may indeed be of military value, they intend a more permanent presence than is the policy of the United States."
While UFPJ opposes the supplemental spending request, we support an amendment to the request that will prohibit permanent bases in Iraq. Since the Senate will vote separately on the amendment, then on the whole package, you can ask them to support one, but not the other.
More Information:
Abizaid says U.S. may want to keep bases in Iraq http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=112308790&url_num=3&url=http://www.fcnl.org/issues/item.php?item_id=1790&issue_id=35
Iraqis Think U.S. in Their Nation to Stay (Guardian) http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=112308790&url_num=4&url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5699355,00.html
Senators Scale Back Funding for Building Projects in Iraq (Los Angeles Times) http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=112308790&url_num=5&url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-warcost5apr05,1,6901192.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
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As you tell Congress not to spend another penny for war, please consider donating some dollars for peace . While Congress is contemplating billions more in war appropriations, United for Peace and Justice is struggling to raise the funds we need to continue pressing for all the troops to be brought home now.
www.gsfp.org