Vigil to End the War in Rochester?
08/21/2007
We need to make sure our representatives head back to Washington with our demands for a speedy withdrawal ringing in their ears. That's why we're organizing "Stand Up In September" vigils on August 28th—National Take A Stand Day. Can you host a vigil in Rochester?
http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/create.html?action_id=92&id=11023-8299453-OWO0tg&t=1
Host a Vigil
Dear Friends,
When most members of Congress get back to DC this September, what do you think they're going to remember about their August vacation? That day out on the fairway with the oil and gas lobbyists? The fat check they got from that big developer? The 100th baby they kissed?
Our job is to make sure they remember one thing: their constituents are counting on them to end the war, and if they fail, they're in trouble.
Here's why it's so important: This September, the White House is going to issue its long-awaited report on whether the "surge" is working.1 Then Congress will vote on war policy for the next year. The escalation hasn't worked and this could be our best chance yet to turn the tide. We need to make sure our representatives head back to Washington with our demands for a speedy withdrawal ringing in their ears.
That's why dozens of organizations have dubbed August 28th National Take A Stand Day. We're looking for someone to host a "Stand Up In September Vigil" in Rochester—one of thousands from coast-to-coast. Can you help?
http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/create.html?action_id=92&id=11023-8299453-OWO0tg&t=2
Hosting a vigil is really easy. All you need to do is register a location at the link above, bring some candles and follow a few simple steps in the short guide we'll provide you. We'll help you out every step of the way and we'll even invite other MoveOn members in your area to your vigil.
After the White House issues its report on the escalation in September, Congress will be faced with a serious decision: will they let the president continue his reckless policy in Iraq or will they stand up and force him to bring our troops home? The answer could be up to us.
The White House will try to use the September report to convince Congress that their escalation worked and they'll try to drag out the war.2 If they don't feel the heat from us now, Congress could side with the White House in September—meaning we could be in Iraq for another 10 years.3
Over the past couple of months, MoveOn members have turned the heat up on Congress. Together, we've told the media and our representatives that we can't afford to keep dumping billions of dollars into an unwinnable civil war. We've asked pro-war congresspeople tough questions about Iraq. We've given every member of Congress a clear choice: Vote to end the war or face political extinction.
Now we have to show up in force to send Congress back to D.C. with a message they cannot ignore: Redeploy our troops out of the quagmire in Iraq NOW.
http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/create.html?action_id=92&id=11023-8299453-OWO0tg&t=3
Thanks for all you do.
–Nita, Justin, Anna, Natalie, Matt and the MoveOn.org Political Action Team
Monday, August 20th, 2007
Sources:
1. "White House to Offer Iraq Plan of Gradual Cuts," New York Times, August 18, 2007
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=2887&id=11023-8299453-OWO0tg&t=4
2. "Top general may propose pullbacks," Los Angeles Times, August 15, 2007
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-pullback15aug15,0,1634199,full.story?coll=la-home-world
3. "Petraeus: Iraq 'Challenges' to Last for Years," Washington Post, June 18, 2007
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=2888&id=11023-8299453-OWO0tg&t=5
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