As most
of the media has put it, Congress "blinked."
After months
of struggle with the administration, Congress relented today on its
insistence that its spending bill include a concrete timetable for
withdrawing US troops from Iraq.
Instead, many billions for
war will likely pass, in exchange for a few questionable
"benchmarks."
"The decision to back down," the New
York Times reported, "was a wrenching reversal for some Democrats, who
saw their election triumph as a call to force an end to the
war."
The anti-war movement -- with its thousands of vigils,
demonstrations, Congressional visits, and sit-ins -- has played a powerful
role over the past few months in moving Congress to confront this policy.
Now we are called to dramatically increase
this momentum.
Please call your members of Congress today at
the US Capitol switchboard: 202-224-3121. Urge them to turn down
this supplemental funding bill and support a genuine peace
process.
Call on them to set a new course: the Declaration
of Peace's nine point comprehensive plan, including an Iraqi-led peace
plan supported by the international community.
Taking the
Next Step: Between Now and September
In the wake of
this action in Congress, the next several months will be crucial.
Over the next days and weeks, we will increase our public action for
peace.
And we will build toward nationwide nonviolent action in
cities across the United States throughout the week culminating in the
International Day of Peace, September 21.
Republicans and Democrats have said that they will
assess the war in September. The next round of funding will be up
for consideration in September. And September will be one of
the last opportunities to hammer out a plan to end the war before the 2008
presidential election heats up. So the Declaration of Peace is planning
to take concerted nonviolent action across the country then.
Please
join us in taking steps for peace between now and September
21.
And please help make this campaign stronger than
ever by making
a donation today. Your donation of $20,
$50, $100, $500 or more will help make our movement for peace as
effective and as powerful as it can be.
Thank you
for all you are doing to end the war and to create a genuine
peace!
The Declaration
of Peace National Coordinating Body
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