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William Polk: Bill in Congress is based on his book on Iraq withdrawal

I thought you would like to see how the initiative I helped to start is going. This is today's report from Congress. The original lists the 71 current signatories. They are from all over America and both parties. As you know, Chapter 5 of the book George McGovern and I wrote is now a bill before Congress.

Best regards, Bill

Congressional Progressive Caucus

“71 Strong and Growing”
[Note: 7 new Members added in 110th Congress raising total Caucus Membership to 71, just 6 short of equaling 1/3 of the entire Democratic Caucus and by far the most diverse Caucus in the 110thth Congress.]

EXPANDED PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS BREAKS NEW GROUND –
CALLS FOR BINDING VOTES AND BRINGING ALL U.S.
TROOPS AND MILITARY CONTRACTORS IN IRAQ HOME IN
A 6-MONTH TIME FRAME AS PART OF A FULLY-FUNDED
REDEPLOYMENT PLAN

U.S. Representatives Lynn Woolsey (D-California) and Barbara Lee (D-California), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), issued the following strongly-worded position on Iraq today on behalf of CPC Members:

CPC POSITION ON U.S. POLICY IN IRAQ

Over the last four years, the insurgency in Iraq has strengthened and sectarian violence has increased. Furthermore, the current situation on the ground in Iraq is grave and rapidly deteriorating. The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) has determined accordingly that a predominantly military approach is no longer a viable solution to stabilizing Iraq.

We are committed to bringing all of the U.S. troops and military contractors in Iraq home in a six-month time frame as part of a fully-funded redeployment plan.

More specifically, we oppose sending additional U.S. troops and military contractors to Iraq and favor binding votes to block President Bush’s escalation of U.S. military involvement in Iraq.

We believe all appropriations for U.S. military involvement in Iraq must be for the protection of our troops until and during their withdrawal within six months of the date of enactment of this limitation and accelerating the training and equipping of additional Iraqi security forces during that six-month time frame. The President has left the Congress few alternatives other than to use the power of purse spelled out in Article I, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution to curtail U.S. military operations in Iraq.

Finally, we are opposed to establishing any permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq, support rescinding the President’s Iraq war authority, and support greater diplomatic and political engagement in the region, while ensuring that the Iraqi people have control over their own petroleum resources.

Related Links

  • William Polk: Out of Iraq Now