Ask the House for a real debate on Iraq

This from a group called After Downing Street, which McSykes will soon link to Stalin and Mao, I'm sure.

What You Can Do for Peace Today

National Call-In Day June 7

Call your Representative 202-224-3121 or toll free (888) 355-3588

An open debate on Iraq is overdue

Because every bill to investigate war lies or end the war is killed in committee, leaders of the Out of Iraq Caucus are seeking to collect the signatures of a majority of Congress members on a discharge petition, which would force a real and open debate of the war onto the floor of the House.

The discharge petition is using H.J.Res. 55 as a vehicle, but once the debate begins, the content of any other bill can be offered as an amendment.

Americans want their sons and daughters home. Children want their mothers and fathers home. The Iraqis want their nation back. Most of the troops think they should leave in the next six months. These are the compelling majority opinions that must be addressed. Facing this is a moral and non-partisan challenge.

But, after more than three years, $300 billion, and the death of over one hundred thousand Iraqis and nearly 2,500 American soldiers, Congress still refuses to debate real alternatives to the President's stay-the-course policy. It is a policy that over 80% of Iraqis, more than 70% of U.S. soldiers stationed in Iraq and a majority of Americans say is a failure.

As a people who seek peace and justice, we have a unique opportunity to demand that Congress stop passing the buck. So far, 122 members of the House of Representatives have signed a 'discharge petition' calling for immediate debate and consideration of ALL alternatives to the policy of open-ended occupation of Iraq. All we need is 96 more members to sign the petition for debate to begin. We need your help!

Call your U.S. Representative today. Ask your Representative to sign H.Res. 543 OR thank them if they have already signed and ask them to ask a colleague to sign H.Res. 543.

Here are lists of those who have and have not signed: List.

[Three Wisconsin Dems -- Gwen Moore, Tammy Baldwin, and Dave Obey -- have signed. Ron Kind has not, nor have any of the Repubs -- Mark Green, Tom Petri, F. Jim Sensenbrenner or Paul Ryan.]

The pressure is already having an impact. There have been news reports that some Republican members of Congress, hoping to dodge a real discussion about Iraq, will offer a tightly-controlled debate framed by supporters of the war. This alternative is clearly an election-year effort to sell the war to the public rather than address the failed policy and the need to bring the troops home. This alternative won't allow members who oppose the war to offer plans to bring the occupation to an end.

Tell your Congress Member that you demand to see a debate with an "open rule," meaning that any amendments can be introduced, debated, and voted on. The surest route to that debate is for them to sign the discharge petition and ask their colleagues to do the same.

Call 202-224-3121 and give the operator your Representative's name, or go to power search on Congress for the local district office.

MORE INFO: After Downing Street.