Iraq: Congress Planning New Money for War - FCNL

Legislative Action Message

Iraq: Congress Planning New Money for War - FCNL Printer-friendly version of this alert Read this alert online at: http://www.fcnl.org/action/2006/lam1116.htm Congress got the message – people want a change in policy in Iraq. What kind of change is still up in the air. In the nine days since the mid-term elections, members of Congress from both major political parties have offered new proposals for change in U.S. policy in Iraq, have organized the first hearings on the situation in Iraq, and have begun to draw up new legislation. But even as Congress is beginning to talk about policy change, congressional staff also are preparing to approve billions of dollars in additional funding for the war and occupation of Iraq. The administration is telling Congress it needs more than $100 billion in additional funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The military budget for the next fiscal year is now approaching an estimated $1 trillion. FCNL is opposed to any new expenditures for military operations in Iraq. But if Congress does approve additional funding, we at FCNL call on lawmakers to condition that funding with a comprehensive plan to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq. A small team of FCNL lobbyists from 15 different states visited congressional staff two days after the election to continue lobbying on Iraq. Now we need to follow up those visits with messages from all over the country asking senators (new and old) to insist on four key elements that need to be part of a comprehensive, new U.S. policy in Iraq: * Set a date for withdrawal of all U.S. military forces; * Support negotiations to bring the armed Iraqi resistance to the negotiating table; * Include all of Iraq’s neighbors in a regional process for peace; and * Provide financial support for the reconstruction of Iraq. Read FCNL's article Iraq: Which Way Up From Failure? Take Action Urge your senators to condition any new funding for the war and occupation of Iraq with a comprehensive plan to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq, support negotiations to bring the Iraqi armed resistance to the negotiating table, include all of Iraq’s neighbors in a regional process for peace, and provide financial support for reconstruction. You can use FCNL’s website to write a letter. Background Find out more about FCNL’s Iraq Peace Plan. ________________________________________ Contact Congress and the administration. Order FCNL publications and "War is Not the Answer" campaign bumper stickers and yard signs. Contribute to FCNL. Subscribe or update your information to this list. To unsubscribe from this list, please see the end of this message. Subscribe to other FCNL legislative, policy, and action alert lists. ________________________________________ Friends Committee on National Legislation 245 Second St. NE, Washington, DC 20002-5795 fcnl@fcnl.org * http://www.fcnl.org phone: (202)547-6000 * toll-free: (800)630-1330 We seek a world free of war and the threat of war We seek a society with equity and justice for all We seek a community where every person's potential may be fulfilled We seek an earth restored.