Fw: Translating Protest into Persuasion of Congress--FCNL

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kathy Guthrie" <kathyguthrie@fcnl.org>
To: "Miriam Vieni" <miriamvieni@optonline.net>
Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2005 12:12 PM
Subject: Iraq: Translating Protest into Persuasion of Congress--FCNL

Tens of thousands of demonstrators will gather in Washington in late
September to demand an end to the war and U.S. occupation of Iraq. FCNL
hopes to mobilize many of these grassroots protesters to become
grassroots lobbyists for the Iraq STEP Resolution. We need the help of
our supporters in the field to use the energy, press attention, and
focus on Iraq generated by the demonstrations to translate protest into
lobbying members of Congress to declare that the U.S. will bring home
its troops and close all U.S. military bases. In short, the U.S. cannot
abandon the people of Iraq, but US forces must leave.

Public opinion on the war in Iraq has shifted significantly in recent
months. This summer, a vigil held outside the president's ranch in
Crawford, TX, by Cindy Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq, helped to
focus intense public attention on the rising death toll in the U.S.
occupation. The devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina had shone a
spotlight on the domestic consequences of the failure to focus federal
funding on human needs as policymakers from both parties have poured
hundreds of billions of dollars into fighting a war in Iraq. This week
president Bush insisted that the U.S. must stay the course in Iraq, but
many are beginning to question what it means to "succeed" in this
war. Members of Congress from both parties have now cosponsored
legislation calling for a change in course in Iraq:
http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/LZYEFAHDHE/IXZRFAHHYC/

But a majority in Congress are not yet prepared to call for withdrawal.
In this shifting climate, FCNL is working to build a congressional
consensus that overcomes the polarized climate that characterizes the
debate on U.S. Iraq policy. Lacking agreement on when and how the U.S.
military presence should end in Iraq, we can build public unity for the
goal of no permanent U.S. military presence in Iraq.

Our job is to persuade Congress to take the next step for a sensible
transition to enduring peace in Iraq. The Congress needs to formally
declare that: "It is the policy of the United States to withdraw all
U.S. military troops and bases from Iraq." This is the starting point
to open further dialogue on when and how withdrawal should happen.
Continuing the war is not the answer that the Iraqi people need or
want.

We need a strong majority of public voices raised to turn around this
ill-conceived war and occupation policy. Here are two things you can do
to help build this majority:

1. Reach out to your friends, neighbors, and local opinion makers.

* Print out copies of the FCNL Iraq STEP resolution and distribute them
at your local meeting, church, or community organization:
http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/LZYEFAHDHE/MLJJFAHHYD/
* Begin dialogues in your churches and communities on U.S. policy in
Iraq. Help break down the "with us or against us" posture that has
divided local communities. FCNL has tools available to help you speak
out and build unity for a public consensus in your divided
communities: http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/LZYEFAHDHE/LIORFAHHYE/

2. If you are coming to Washington on September 24

* Join FCNL in distributing material to protestors urging them to
continue substantive work for peace when they go back home. You can
download a PDF flyer that can be reprinted and distributed to march
participants http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/LZYEFAHDHE/OIAVFAHHYF/
* Consider also joining the lobby day on Monday September 26 if you can
stay in Washington. (Lobby training will be provided Sept. 25). For
more information see
http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/LZYEFAHDHE/JHUWFAHHYG/

For more information on the FCNL Iraq program: www.fcnl.org/iraq

Thinking ahead: The Senate will not be in session the week of October
11. The Senate recess is a perfect time to schedule lobby visits with
your senators back in their home states. Call their offices now to ask
for a meeting. See the FCNL grassroots toolkit for more information:
http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/LZYEFAHDHE/NFNUFAHHYH/
_______________________________________

The Next Step for Iraq: Join FCNL's Iraq Campaign,
http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/LZYEFAHDHE/KXOAFAHHYI/
Stop New Nuclear Weapons! Find out how,
http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/LZYEFAHDHE/BEAAFAHHYJ/

Contact Congress and the Administration:
http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/LZYEFAHDHE/KESCFAHHYK/

Order FCNL publications and "War is Not the Answer" campaign
bumper stickers and yard signs:
http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/LZYEFAHDHE/BNXFFAHHYL/
http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/LZYEFAHDHE/BJOYFAHHYM/

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http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/LZYEFAHDHE/GHCMFAHHYN/

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________________________________________

Friends Committee on National Legislation
245 Second St. NE, Washington, DC 20002-5795
fcnl@fcnl.org * http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/LZYEFAHDHE/OBEKFAHHYQ/
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.
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