Fw: Good News: House Votes to Block Permanent Iraq Bases, Protect Civilians in Darfur - FCNL

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kathy Guthrie" <kathyguthrie@fcnl.org>
To: "Miriam Vieni" <miriamvieni@optonline.net>
Sent: Friday, March 17, 2006 4:11 PM
Subject: Good News: House Votes to Block Permanent Iraq Bases, Protect
Civilians in Darfur - FCNL

This week the House voted to approve one of two key components of
FCNL's Iraq STEP Resolution and to protect civilians in Darfur. These
victories are the result of your hard work: the thousands of emails
you've sent to your representatives on Iraq and Darfur, the in-district
lobby meetings with your members of Congress, your efforts to gain
endorsements for FCNL's STEP proposal, and your phone calls.
Congratulations!

Here's what happened on Iraq: The House of Representatives voted
overwhelmingly Thursday night, March 16, to prevent the U.S. from
establishing permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq. Reps. Allen (ME),
Lee (CA), Hinchey (NY), and Schakowsky (IL) sponsored the amendment to
the emergency supplemental funding bill that 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."

Now we need to work to ensure that the Senate adopts an even stronger
amendment, taking the first steps toward a withdrawal of all U.S.
military troops and bases from Iraq. Find out how at
http://capwiz.com/fconl/go/iraqfund_sen.

*House Demands Change in U.S. Policy*

On the same day U.S. military forces launched the largest air-assault
since early in the war, the House of Representatives voted to demand a
change in policy in Iraq. The vote came just two days after Gen. John
Abizaid told Congress the U.S. may want to keep a long term military
presence in Iraq. Find out more at www.fcnl.org/iraq

For the first time since the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the House has
asserted its right -- and responsibility -- to demand the
administration abandon three years of failed policy in Iraq. FCNL hopes
the vote marks a first step toward a new policy in Iraq. We also hope
it isn't too late

This weekend Iraqis will mark the third anniversary of the U.S.
invasion. The war rages, while religious and ethnic divisions in the
country appear to be growing, not subsiding. A large majority of Iraqis
believe the U.S. has no intention of ever leaving their country,
according to opinion polls. Two of every three people in this country
now believe the Iraq invasion was a war of choice, not of necessity and
there is broad opposition to permanent U.S. military bases. The House
vote sends a strong signal to Iraqis and the international community
that the U.S. does not have imperial ambitions in that country.

*How Did This Vote Happen?*

Reps. Allen, Lee, Hinchey, and Schakowsky deserve much of the credit
for sponsoring the amendment banning bases. Also speaking in favor of
this amendment, were Reps. Conyers (MI), Harman (CA), Jackson Lee (TX),
Kucinich (OH), Moran (VA), David Price (NC), Waters (CA), and Woolsey
(CA).

These members of Congress had strong support from FCNL constituents in
their states; support that was, in some cases, critical to their
engagement. Last year, Rep. Allen, following conversations with FCNL
constituents in his home state, introduced language that would
essentially codify FCNL's STEP proposal into law (HR 3142). And Rep.
Lee has also thanked FCNL for supporting her no permanent bases bill
(H. Con Res. 197) and for the map of proposed permanent bases in Iraq
developed by FCNL.

*House Increases Money to Protect Civilians in Darfur, Sudan*

The House of Representatives also voted this week to increase emergency
funding for the African Union Mission in Sudan, an important step
forward in the process of preventing genocide and protecting civilians
in Darfur.

A small African Union peacekeeping force of 7,000 is all that stands
between the people of Darfur and horrific violence that has taken the
lives of hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions more in
western Sudan. The president in February requested an additional $123
million in funding to support this mission as part of the emergency
supplemental legislation debated on the floor of the House this
afternoon. On Thursday, March 16, House members voted 213 to 208 to
support an amendment offered by Rep. Capuano (MA) to increase funding
for that mission by $50 million to a total of $173 million.

Before the vote Rep. Capuano wrote a letter to his colleagues urging
support for the amendment and his staff specifically cited the
importance of the letter FCNL organized from non-governmental
organizations urging an increase in funding for the African Union
mission.

Funding for the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) is more crucial
than ever. Last Friday the AU authorized the continuation of AMIS until
at least September 30th to allow sufficient time for continued
negotiations on allowing UN peacekeepers in Darfur. As AU peacekeepers
are likely to remain the only force on the ground charged with
protecting civilians in the near future, it is all the more critical
for AMIS to be fully funded and given the resources to effectively
protect civilians and prevent further destabilization in Darfur.

Additional Resources:

FCNL's Iraq STEP Resolution:
http://www.fcnl.org/issues/item.php?item_id=1353&issue_id=35

An Article on the recently released Iraqi Public Opinion Poll:
http://www.fcnl.org/issues/item.php?item_id=1353&issue_id=35

FCNL's map of proposed permanent bases in Iraq:
http://www.fcnl.org/iraq/bases.htm

Read Col. Dan Smith's (USA Ret.) analysis of the US Air Offensive in
Iraq:
http://quakerscolonel.blogspot.com/2006/03/guess-whos-in-hood.html

FCNL's Recommendations for U.S. Policy in Sudan:
http://www.fcnl.org/issues/item.php?item_id=1695&issue_id=104

_______________________________________

The Next Step for Iraq: Join FCNL's Iraq Campaign, http://www.fcnl.org/iraq/

Contact Congress and the Administration:
http://capwiz.com/fconl/dbq/officials/

Order FCNL publications and "War is Not the Answer" campaign
bumper stickers and yard signs:
http://www.fcnl.org/pubs/
http://www.fcnl.org/forms/forms.php?type=bump

Contribute to FCNL:
http://www.fcnl.org/donate/

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________________________________________

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.

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