Legislative Action Message: January 11, 2007

Iraq War: Build a Bipartisan Effort to Stop Escalation - FCNL

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Last night, the president announced a major escalation of the war in Iraq, threatened a new confrontation with Iran and Syria, and again insisted that the U.S. can “win” the war in Iraq. We at FCNL are deeply disappointed in the president’s new statement of his old plan, which ignores the results of the last election, rejects the central advice of the non-partisan Iraq Study Group, and flies in the face of the advice of the generals who have been in charge of the war until now. Read our full analysis.

Working together, we at FCNL believe the people of this country can persuade Congress to stop the president’s irresponsible escalation of the war in Iraq and prevent him from starting wars with Iran and Syria. We need to act quickly and responsibly, because the lives of many depend on what we do and how we do it.

We hope you’ll work with us to flood Congress with messages urging strong action to establish a new, bipartisan political strategy for ending the U.S. war and military presence in Iraq. A bipartisan plan should first set a date certain for withdrawal of U.S. military forces, then initiate negotiations that include Iraqis fighting the government and U.S. forces, and simultaneously and diplomatically engage with Iraq’s neighbors to agree on a responsible plan for meeting the date certain for withdrawal. While U.S. military forces must leave Iraq, U.S.-funded reconstruction efforts should not be abandoned.

Members of Congress from both major political parties are speaking out against the war in Iraq and the prospect of war with Iran. The civil war and violence in Iraq are escalating, and the president is probably right that there will be more violence. But the U.S. needs to stop being part of the problem, and become part of the solution. Congress should ask probing questions that expose the flaws in the administration’s plan. We at FCNL urge Congress to "de-fund" the war now and begin by imposing conditions on any new funds to ensure they are not used to send more soldiers to Iraq and to require a draw-down of U.S. forces.

Take Action

Urge your representative and your senators to speak out against the escalation of the war in Iraq and confrontation with Iran. The U.S. needs a political strategy in Iraq, not another failing military solution. We expect Congress will vote on a nonbinding resolution opposing an escalation of the war. We hope you will work with us to ensure bipartisan support for that resolution.

Ask all of your elected officials to support legislation opposing the escalation of the war and to speak out in favor of a political solution in Iraq. Again, you can send an email, letter or fax from our website.