As our nation talks of launching an attack on Iraq, some courageous souls in Congress have questioned the wisdom of this policy.
Nineteen of them have formed a coalition in the House. Their goal? To halt a congressional resolution--slated for a vote in less than
two weeks--to hand the President enormous military powers. One senator has likened it to a "blank check" to conduct a war
anywhere, at any time, in the Middle East.
Though few have dared to join this band of independent thinkers, the mavericks believe they can turn the momentum. If the U.S.
would adopt a more imaginative approach, whether dealing with Iraq or other countries, they maintain, we could resolve the
situation overseas without inciting more bloodshed in a volatile region. This is an exciting development!
These remarkable legislators need to hear from us TODAY. They have risked political suicide to save us from ourselves. When I
phoned the office of one of them, Rep. Jim McDermott of Washington, his staffer was delighted at the positive feedback. "We've
had a couple hundred calls," he confided. I was stunned. Hundreds? That's it?? The man should be getting thousands, hundreds of
thousands, even millions. Enough messages of encouragement, solidarity, and gratitude to shut down all the switchboards on
Capitol Hill.
I'm sending you a list of some of the players in this drama. Please call, fax, or e-mail them immediately. Thank them for ignoring
the drumbeat of war and shifting the emphasis to constructive dialogue. A few will accept e-mail from outside their district; most
prefer calls or faxes. Also urge your local media (print, radio, TV) to cover this story. Americans deserve to be informed. This isn't
"anti-war"--it's "pro-sanity"!
Thanks for spreading the word...
Yours in peace & hopefulness,
CC
October 1
SENATOR JOSEPH BIDEN, JR. (Delaware)
Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Coauthored a commentary in the New York Times about the drawbacks of military engagement in Iraq and the need for an open
and immediate discussion of our objectives before engaging in war. (read more at
www.nytimes.com/2002/07/31/opinion/31BIDE.html)
202-224-5042 (ph); 202-224-0139 (fx)
senator@biden.senate.gov (was malfunctioning over the weekend--with luck it's back in service)
At the Senate Foreign Relations Committee:
202-224-4651 (ph); 202-228-3612 (fx)
SENATOR RICHARD LUGAR (Indiana)
Ranking minority member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Coauthor, with Senator Biden, of the article in the New York Times
202-224-4814 (ph); 202-228-0360 (fx)
senator_lugar@lugar.senate.gov
SENATOR RUSSELL FEINGOLD (Wisconsin)
Has strenuously objected to the language of the proposed resolution that would give the President what amount to blanket powers
to attack other nations. Says the resolution "appears to actually authorize the president to do virtually anything anywhere in the
Middle East."
202-224-5323 (ph)
Or e-mail him at feingold.senate.gov
REP. JIM MCDERMOTT (Washington)
Is spearheading the drive in the House of Representatives to oppose military action in Iraq. "There are a lot of us who think the
American people are getting only one point of view," he says. "...We need to give people a chance to know what their alternatives
are." And: "I strongly believe we must first exhaust all diplomatic channels before we commit U.S. servicemen and women to a
potentially protracted and costly conflict. ...It would also inflame anti-U.S. extremism throughout the region, and set a dangerous
precedent that other countries might follow." (read more at www.house.gov/mcdermott/pr020912_response_to_bush_un.htm)
202-225-3106; 202-225-6197 (fx)
REP. DENNIS KUCINICH (Ohio)
Another leader, with McDermott, of the House coalition that hopes to avert a U.S. war with Iraq. He is disturbed that "the country
which I love so much" is talking about unilateral attacks, assassinations, and more, adding, "This is not an America that I
recognize." And: "There is no imminent threat by Iraq against the United States. Iraq does not have nuclear capabilities that
anyone has been able to specifically determine... Oil is a factor. How much [of a factor] is anybody's guess...after all, it is the
second largest oil supply in the world." And: "[Domestic issues like the economy] are the immediate threat to America's security.
Iraq is a handy diversion." (read more at www.rense.com/general29/sdoi.htm)
202-225-5871 (ph); 202-225-5745 (fx)
REP. MARCY KAPTUR (Ohio)
"Naked aggression is not the American way," she has said about a preemptive strike against Iraq
202-225-4146 (ph); 202-225-7711 (fx)
REP.KAPTUR@mail.house.gov
REP. JOHN MURTHA (Pennsylvania)
Has serious qualms about our rush to start a war
202-225-2065 (ph)
murtha@mail.house.gov
REP. PETER DEFAZIO (Oregon)
Thinks the President is obsessed with "old business"--i.e., his father's campaign against Saddam Hussein
202-225-6416 (ph)
REP. SHEILA JACKSON LEE (Texas)
She's hopeful that House Republicans will work with Democrats in this effort
202-225-3816; 202-225-3317 (fx)
tx18@mail.house.gov
REP. BERNIE SANDERS (Vermont)
Believes that others would claim the right to mimic our preemptive first strike, causing "international anarchy" (read more at
bernie.house.gov
202-225-4115 (ph); 202-225-6790 (fx)
bernie@mail.house.gov
REP. TAMMY BALDWIN (Wisconsin)
Opposes a unilateral first strike against Iraq "in the absence of evidence"...favors "working with our allies and other nations" to deal
with weapons of mass destruction...believes we must give "weapons inspectors a chance...before concluding they have
failed"...cosigned two letters to the President "cautioning against expansion of the war on terrorism beyond Afghanistan"
202-225-2906 (ph); 225-6942 (fx)
Or e-mail her at tammybaldwin.house.gov
REP. SAM FARR (California)
A member of the newly formed House coalition (there are FIVE from California!)
202-225-2861 (ph); 202-225-6791 (fx)
REP. BOB FILNER (California)
He's feeling the heat in his district, which is home to many armed services personnel & retirees
202-225-8045 (ph); 202-225-9073 (fx)
REP. BARBARA LEE (California)
Has introduced H.R. 473, a resolution calling for the U.S. to work through the U.N. AND opposing unilateral first-strike military
action!
(Remember that she also cast the ONLY vote in Congress against retaliating in Afghanistan for the 9/11 attacks.)
(read about it at www.house.gov/lee/releases/02Sept18.htm)
202-225-2661 (ph); 202-225-9817 (fx)
Barbara.Lee@mail.house.gov
REP. DIANE WATSON (California)
A member of the newly formed coalition
202-225-7084 (ph); 202-225-2422 (fx)
REP. LYNN WOOLSEY (California)
Mail and calls from her constituents are running 200-to-1 against a war with Iraq! She says they're asking, "Where...is the
opposition?"
202-225-5161 (ph); 202-225-5163 (fx) |
