Iraq: During Easter Recess Tell Your Senators, No Permanent U.S. Military Bases
Momentum is building for a change in U.S. policy toward Iraq.
For the second time in less than a month, your remarkable efforts have persuaded Congress to act. Last week Senate appropriators said the United States should not establish permanent military bases in Iraq and voted to cuts millions of dollars in funding for long-term military construction projects from an emergency supplemental funding bill. This Senate Appropriations Committee vote follows the House decision March 15 refusing to approve any new funding for military activities in Iraq that might lead to the U.S. establishing permanent bases.
If the full Senate endorses the actions of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Congress will have reached agreement on the first legislation challenging the direction of U.S. policy toward Iraq since the U.S. invasion more than three years ago.
Lobby During the Easter Recess (April 9 - 23): Your senators are now back in their home state for the Easter recess. This is a perfect time to lobby your senators to cut funding for military construction in Iraq and approve a clear statement that all U.S. military forces and bases should be withdrawn from Iraq and the withdrawal should begin this year.
The Senate will begin debating the emergency supplemental funding request when senators return from the recess on April 25. FCNL does not support funding for war and occupation in Iraq. But we know this legislation will be approved; and so FCNL is urging senators to attach an unambiguous message to the supplemental funding request stating it is the policy of the United States to remove all U.S. troops and bases from Iraq and initiate a withdrawal this year.
Take Action Now
Contact your senators’ offices in your state. Ask your senators to attach a resolution to the Iraq war supplemental that conditions any new funding for the war in Iraq with a clear declaration that all U.S. military forces and bases will be withdrawn from Iraq and the U.S. will initiate the withdrawal this year.
Use this opportunity to:
1. Organize a delegation to visit with your senators during the Easter recess to discuss U.S. policy in Iraq. Find out how to request a meeting with your senators.
2. Attend a public event where your senator is speaking and ask a question about Iraq;
3. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper.
Background
Senate Appropriations Committee Action: On Tuesday, April 4, Senate appropriators voted to cut $177 million in funding for long-term military construction projects from the FY2006 supplemental appropriations bill (H.R.4939). 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.”
House Action: This followed the House vote of March 15th attaching an amendment which 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.”
More information:
Good News: House Votes to Block Permanent Iraq Bases
Permanent Bases in Iraq: Where Politics and Law Hit a Brick Wall, by Col. Dan Smith (USA, Ret.) Published in Dan’s web log, The Quaker’s Colonel
Senators Scale Back Funding for Building Projects in Iraq
Contacting Legislators
Contact your members of Congress through FCNL's web site.
Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
Sen. ________
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Rep. ________
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Contacting the Administration
Contact the President through FCNL's web site.
White House Comment Desk:
202 456-1111
Fax: 202-456-2461
White House web site
President George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
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