ACTION ALERT * UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/ 212-868-5545=================REMINDER:NATIONAL CALL-IN DAY TO OPPOSE WAR SPENDING WEDNESDAY,FEBRUARY 9, 2005$80 BILLION MORE FOR THE IRAQ WAR?NO WAY! BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOWContact your member of Congress: no new war spending!Congressional Switchboard 202-224-3121 (9-5 EST)===========================================ThisThis week GeorgeW. Bush submitted his 2006 budget request to Congress: a$2.5 trillion statement about the administration’s plan toslash social programs while increasing military spending.Yet not a single dime of his FY 2006 budget is earmarked forIraq. Instead, those costs will be hidden from the Americanpeople in the form of an $80 billion emergency supplementalrequest to Congress later this week. The President's fourthsupplemental spending request for the Iraq war will add $80billion to the more than $151 billion already appropriated.When President Bush submitted his 2006 budget to Congress onMonday he said, "The taxpayers of America don't want usspending our money into something that's not achievingresults." We couldn’t agree more. The people of U.S.can’t allow Congress to pour more money to "stay the course" of atragic, failed war.The U.S. peace movement and its allies have createdtremendous openings in the debate on bringing the troopshome over the past two weeks. 55 percent of the U.S. publicfeels that the war was not worth it, Congresswoman LynnWoolsey introduced an important resolution calling on theU.S. to start withdrawal from Iraq, and Senator Ted Kennedyis raising critical questions about the need to bring thetroops home.Our task now is to get ahead of the curve and send an earlyand clear message to Congress that their constituents willbe monitoring them throughout the $80 billion debate overthe future of the Iraq war. Tell your Member of Congress onWednesday that not one more dime should go to waging war inIraq. Instead, the U.S. must end the occupation, bring ourtroops home, and support Iraqi sovereignty. It is time forus to demand that the Administration and Congress stopperpetuating the cycle of violence in Iraq, stop sending somany soldiers and civilians to their graves, and stopdiverting precious resources that could be used to rebuildIraq and fund critical domestic needs.Congress is expected to ultimately vote on Bush's Iraqsupplemental in late March or early April. UFPJ willcontinue to send updates and action alerts as the debateunfolds.TAKE ACTION ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9!• Call, write, or fax your Member of Congress! Call theCapitol switchboard and ask to be connected with yourSenators and Representatives, 202-224-3121 (9-5 EST). Wewant to flood Congressional offices with calls from everydistrict in the nation. See below for talking points.TALKING POINTSTell your members of Congress that when they receiveBush’ $80 billion supplemental appropriation request they should:1. Oppose new funds: Congress should halt new funds for U.S.military operations in Iraq. Any new funds should beallocated solely for troop withdrawal and interim troopprotection.2. End the occupation: Halt U.S. military actionsimmediately, shift U.S. troops immediately to the borders ofIraq, declare intention to begin full withdrawal of troops,and leave no U.S. bases behind. Support the Woolsey (D-CA)resolution calling on the President to begin the immediatewithdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.3. Support Iraqi sovereignty: Give Iraqis full control overreconstruction funds, Iraqi ministries and government, andnew police and security forces. Terminate contracts withU.S. companies and turn projects over to Iraqis, and providetransparent accounting of all U.S. contracts.4. Stabilize Iraq: Commit to long-term U.S. financialsupport for Iraqi-led reconstruction and allow the UN andother international agencies to support Iraq democracy freefrom U.S. intervention, and if the Iraqis want thatassistance.5. Provide real support for our troops: End the "stop-loss"policies that keep troops on active duty far beyond theircontracts, and overextend the Reserves and National Guard.Provide thorough psychological counseling, health care, andbenefits to returning Iraq war veterans and their families.Bring our troops home!
