If you could end the war in Afghanistan by making one phone call, would you make that call? Would you press 10 buttons to stop the wanton destruction of the lives of American soldiers and Afghan civilians?
Unfortunately, there isn't one single phone call that will in itself end the war. But a phone call made to Congress today in support of Representative Kucinich's withdrawal resolution will contribute to ending the war in the foreseeable future. Will you help by asking your Representative to support the Kucinich resolution?
Calling your Representative is easy. Just follow these simple instructions:
1. If you need to look up your Representative, go to:
http://house.gov/2. Call the Congressional switchboard at 202-224-3121
3. Ask to be connected to your Representative's office
4. Tell the individual in your Rep's office that your Representative should:
a. Co-sponsor the Kucinich resolution, H.Con.Res. 248;
b. Vote for the Kucinich resolution; and
c. Speak out during the debate on the Kucinich resolution, which is expected in the next few days, most likely Wednesday.
When you've completed your call, you can report the result of your phone call here.
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/node/507 If you cannot make a call today or tomorrow, you may email your Representative here:
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/kucinich In the next few days -- probably Wednesday -- the House of Representatives is expected to debate and vote on a "privileged resolution" -- H.Con.Res. 248 -- introduced by Ohio Representative Dennis Kucinich that would establish a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Afghanistan. <1>
The debate and vote on the Kucinich Resolution will be the opening round for the coming fight over the Pentagon's $33 billion war supplemental to pay for the current military escalation. <2> If the Kucinich Resolution makes a strong showing, Members of Congress will be encouraged to oppose the war supplemental and to try to attach real conditions to it, like a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Afghanistan. Congressional advocacy of a timetable for withdrawal was a key cause of the current drawdown from Iraq, and Congressional advocacy of a timetable for withdrawal would shorten the war in Afghanistan.
If the war supplemental is passed without conditions, then the Pentagon can launch its offensive on Kandahar, which will inevitably kill far more U.S. soldiers and Afghan civilians than the assault on Marjah, perhaps leading to some Congressional hand-wringing. But with the war supplemental passed, Congress would have given up its main leverage to change U.S. policy for another six months.
There is a way to break this cycle, and that's for Members of Congress to speak up now. But Members of Congress will only speak up if they hear from their constituents, and that's why it's important for Americans to call Congress today and urge their Representatives to support the Kucinich Resolution.
Please call today. The Capitol Switchboard is 202-224-3121.
Thank you for all you do to help bring about a just foreign policy,
Chelsea Mozen, Megan Iorio, Sarah Burns and Robert Naiman
Just Foreign Policy
Please support our work. Donate for a Just Foreign Policy.
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/donate.htmlReferences:
1. "H.Con.Res.248 - Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove the United States Armed Forces from Afghanistan"
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-hc248/show 2. "Hill To Weigh War Supplemental Next Month," Emelie Rutherford, Defense Daily, March 2, 2010
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/node/499