Fw: Peace in Iraq Call-In Day Monday 4/24 - FCNL

----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe Volk" <joevolk@fcnl.org>
To: "Miriam Vieni" <miriamvieni@optonline.net>
Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2006 4:12 PM
Subject: [Norton AntiSpam] Peace in Iraq Call-In Day Monday 4/24 - FCNL

Will the full Senate join the House in challenging the direction of
U.S. policy in Iraq?

Anger and frustration over the failure of U.S. policy in Iraq is
evident around the country and growing in Congress. An intensifying
civil war and the specter of a failed state have led many in Congress
to recognize that the U.S. sadly has little control over events in
Iraq. Time to influence events on the ground is running out.

But Congress is beginning to challenge the direction of U.S. policy in
Iraq with legislation similar to FCNL's Iraq STEP resolution declaring
that the U.S. will not continue to occupy Iraq forever. The House has
already attached language to the supplemental funding legislation that
would restrict negotiations for permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq.
Earlier this month a key Senate committee cut out money for long-term
military construction projects that might lead to permanent bases.

Next week the full Senate is expected to vote on the president's
request for emergency supplemental funding to support the war in Iraq.
FCNL lobbyists report that a bipartisan group of senators is prepared
to support legislation prohibiting permanent U.S. military bases in
Iraq. Working with other national organizations, FCNL has set up a
toll-free number to flood the Senate with phone calls stating it is
time for the full Senate to declare that it is the policy of the U.S.
to establish no permanent military bases in Iraq.

A Printer-friendly version of this alert is at
http://www.fcnl.org/action/alert_print.htm

*Take Action Now*

Help flood the Senate with phone calls next Monday, April 24. Ask your
senators to attach an amendment to that supplemental funding
legislation rejecting permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq. Call the
Capitol switchboard toll-free at 800-620-4394 and ask for your senator
by name. Find out who your senators are at
http://capwiz.com/fconl/directory/congdir.tt

*Tips on making your call*

--Don't get discouraged if you get a busy signal - it means the call-in
day is working! Try again in a few minutes.
--If you do get a repeated busy signal, you can call your senators'
offices directly. Look up your senators' numbers on our website:
http://capwiz.com/fconl/directory/congdir.tt

*Script for your call*

--My name is [NAME], and I live in [CITY, STATE].Thanks for taking my call.
--I understand the full Senate will consider the president's emergency
supplemental request for additional funding for the war in Iraq very
soon.
--I would like the senator to sponsor an amendment to this legislation
stating "it is policy of the U.S. to establish no permanent
military bases in Iraq." Can you tell me if that will be possible?

Find out more about the call-in day: http://www.fcnl.org/iraq/apr24_call.htm

*Background*

Members of Congress are turning the president's fiscal year 2006
(FY06) request for emergency supplemental funding to support the war in
Iraq (H.R. 4939) into a vehicle for challenging the direction of U.S.
policy in Iraq. FCNL does not support any additional 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.

The House already amended this legislation, March 15, to include
language 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."

The powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, on April 4, cut $177
million in funding for long-term military construction projects from
the FY06 supplemental appropriations bill. 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."

*More Information*

Abizaid says U.S. may want to keep bases in Iraq:
http://www.fcnl.org/issues/item.php?item_id=1790&issue_id=35

Iraqis Think U.S. in Their Nation to Stay
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5699355,00.html

Senators Scale Back Funding for Building Projects in Iraq
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-warcost5apr05,1,6901192.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

_______________________________________

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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