Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) Urges Congress to Use Bush's Supplemental Request to Mandate Regional Diplomacy & End the Occupation
Bush is a lame duck president. Despite the numerous horrible things he has done to the USA and the world, and the crystal-clear message to end his Iraq "war" which the American voters sent in the 2006 elections, Congress is afraid to stand up to him. The United States of America continues to be the enemy of every sane country in the world, and we are a laughingstock, as well. Giving Bush a blank check is NOT the path America must take. We must act now to stop the Bush administration from doing further damage.
***By the way, Bush has set a new record low: 71% of Americans disapprove of how he is doing his job***
As Congress prepares to vote on over $108 billion dollars for war funding, FCNL urges members to vote against the supplemental funding. While there aren't enough votes in Congress to block the funding, we see that there are crucial steps that the 110th Congress can take to change US policy in Iraq. We urge members of Congress to vote against a blank check for war, and to use the supplemental as an opportunity to mandate regional diplomacy in Iraq and block the "strategic framework" agreement between the US and Iraq that could formalize a long term US occupation of Iraq.
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FCNL sent the following letter to every member of the House on April 29, 2008:
April 29, 2008
Dear Representative,
The upcoming vote on the administration’s request for more than $100 billion in additional funding for the Iraq war provides a good opportunity for Congress to insist on a new U.S. policy in Iraq. As a Quaker organization, we at FCNL oppose any new funding for war and we hope you will vote against this bill. At the same time, we recognize that there may not be enough votes in the 110th Congress to block new funding for war.
Whether you oppose new funding for war or support such funding, we at FCNL hope Congress will add bipartisan language to the Iraq war supplemental bill that encourages a fundamental shift in U.S. policy toward regional engagement and against the endless occupation of Iraq. Please support and vote for amendments to the war supplemental that would:
• Require the U.S. to engage in the inclusive regional diplomacy recommended by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group to stabilize Iraq and the region. Some sixty members of the House have signed H.R. 3797 that mandates diplomacy and new legislation providing an even more comprehensive diplomatic approach has been introduced in the last few weeks (H.Con.Res. 321). Five former secretaries of state have called for negotiations with Iraq’s neighbors and the former commander of U.S. Central Command, Admiral William Fallon, has said the U.S. needs the assistance of Iraq’s neighbors to solve Iraq’s problems. A timely mandate for diplomacy with Iraq’s neighbors, including Iran, can also reduce tensions and avert a wider war.
• Require congressional approval of any status of forces or strategic framework agreement between the U.S. and Iraq. The administration’s push to conclude bilateral agreements with Iraq before it leaves office requires the check and balance of Congress. Reps. Bill Delahunt and Rosa DeLauro have introduced legislation (H.R. 5626) that could be attached to the war supplemental. The administration has confirmed that it is seeking a new “authority to fight” in the agreements being negotiated with Iraq. This authority would permit the continuation of U.S. military action in Iraq and its expansion to any neighboring state deemed by the U.S. to pose a threat to Iraq. Congress should not accept the assertion of such authority without its consent. A U.S.-Iraq agreement could, moreover, narrow Iraq policy options for the next administration. Requiring congressional approval of any agreement affords the best guarantee against this possibility, as well.
We urge you to attach these important provisions to the Iraq supplemental funding bill.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Jim Fine
Legislative Secretary for Foreign Policy
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FCNL sent the following letter to every member of the House on April 29, 2008:
April 29, 2008
Dear Representative,
The upcoming vote on the administration’s request for more than $100 billion in additional funding for the Iraq war provides a good opportunity for Congress to insist on a new U.S. policy in Iraq. As a Quaker organization, we at FCNL oppose any new funding for war and we hope you will vote against this bill. At the same time, we recognize that there may not be enough votes in the 110th Congress to block new funding for war.
Whether you oppose new funding for war or support such funding, we at FCNL hope Congress will add bipartisan language to the Iraq war supplemental bill that encourages a fundamental shift in U.S. policy toward regional engagement and against the endless occupation of Iraq. Please support and vote for amendments to the war supplemental that would:
• Require the U.S. to engage in the inclusive regional diplomacy recommended by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group to stabilize Iraq and the region. Some sixty members of the House have signed H.R. 3797 that mandates diplomacy and new legislation providing an even more comprehensive diplomatic approach has been introduced in the last few weeks (H.Con.Res. 321). Five former secretaries of state have called for negotiations with Iraq’s neighbors and the former commander of U.S. Central Command, Admiral William Fallon, has said the U.S. needs the assistance of Iraq’s neighbors to solve Iraq’s problems. A timely mandate for diplomacy with Iraq’s neighbors, including Iran, can also reduce tensions and avert a wider war.
• Require congressional approval of any status of forces or strategic framework agreement between the U.S. and Iraq. The administration’s push to conclude bilateral agreements with Iraq before it leaves office requires the check and balance of Congress. Reps. Bill Delahunt and Rosa DeLauro have introduced legislation (H.R. 5626) that could be attached to the war supplemental. The administration has confirmed that it is seeking a new “authority to fight” in the agreements being negotiated with Iraq. This authority would permit the continuation of U.S. military action in Iraq and its expansion to any neighboring state deemed by the U.S. to pose a threat to Iraq. Congress should not accept the assertion of such authority without its consent. A U.S.-Iraq agreement could, moreover, narrow Iraq policy options for the next administration. Requiring congressional approval of any agreement affords the best guarantee against this possibility, as well.
We urge you to attach these important provisions to the Iraq supplemental funding bill.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Jim Fine
Legislative Secretary for Foreign Policy
Labels: Bush, Congress, Congressioal action, Congressional inaction, House of Representatives, Iraq war, oppose additional war funding, war budget
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