September 5, 2007

Rep. Nancy Pelosi,
235 Cannon House Office Building,
Washington, DC 20515

Sen. Harry Reid,
528 Hart Senate Office Building,
Washington, DC 20510

Rep. John Boehner,
1011 Longworth House Office Building,
Washington, DC 20515

Sen. Mitch McConnell,
361-A Russell Senate Office Building,
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator or Representative:

As representatives of peace and justice organizations, we are writing to request a meeting with you as soon as possible at your convenience to discuss a most urgent issue.  We are facing one of the greatest crisis of our times--the unmitigated disaster caused by the war and occupation of Iraq.  The untold suffering in Iraq, in that region and here in the United States will be with us for decades to come.  The healing of Iraq cannot begin until all occupation forces leave the country.

Many of our elected representatives express concern for the troops in Iraq.  However, under a false premise, they vote to fund the war in order to “support the troops.”  In reality, not much of the funding of the war actually went to the troops or the many veterans who returned home broken and damaged by what they experienced in this illegal war. Instead funding the war meant more money for profiteers like Halliburton and corrupt Iraqi officials.  And funding the war inevitably led to more dead and wounded U.S. soldiers. 

We urge you to be a leader in ending this dishonorable war.  The continuation of this illegal and futile occupation is a refusal to accept the November 2006 mandate of the people to end this war.  As you are aware, an astonishing $12 billion is wasted each month on the war in Iraq.  The money going down the rabbit hole in Iraq is funding denied to the poor and the working middle class.  Money for war is money denied to children, many of whom have no access to health care.  Money for war is money denied to our struggling public schools.  Money for war is money denied to desperately needed social services. 

All of us, both legislator and peace activist, must act to end this ignoble crisis.  Let us meet to discuss how best to end the occupation of Iraq as soon as possible. 

The Declaration of Peace has developed a framework for a 9-point Comprehensive Peace Plan for Iraq, which we would like to discuss with you at the meeting:

  1] An end to all funding for U.S. military operations in Iraq.

  2] Safe and rapid withdrawal of all U.S. troops and coalition forces from Iraq, with no future deployments.

  3] No permanent U.S. military bases or installations in Iraq.

  4] Support for an Iraqi-led peace process, including a peace conference to shape a post-occupation transition.

  5] Return control of Iraqi oil and sovereignty in their economic and political affairs to the people of Iraq.

  6] Support for reparations and reconstruction to address the destruction caused by the U.S. invasion, military occupation, and 13 years of economic sanctions.

  7] Establish a U.S. "peace dividend" for job creation, health care, education, housing, and other social needs at home.

  8] Increased support for U.S. veterans of the Iraq war.

  9] No war against Iran or any other nation.

The peace community warned the government not to invade Iraq.  The peace community argued that the reasons for going to war were lies.  The peace community predicted that the invasion and occupation of Iraq would become a quagmire.  Following the current path will only mean more death and destruction.

So representatives of various peace groups hope to speak with you, and through dialogue let us find a solution to the crisis.  Please contact us and let us know when you are available to meet. We look forward to your response.

Medea Benjamin                                            
Code Pink                                                        
Phone: (415) 558-5700                                  
Email: medea@globalexchange.org
                                                                       

Malachy Kilbride
The Declaration of Peace
P.O. Box 6163
Bloomington, Indiana 47407-6163
http://DeclarationofPeace.org                                           

Marcia Jansen
Democracy Rising
P.O. Box 18485                                             
Washington , DC 20036                                 

Michael Walli
Dorothy Day Catholic Worker
503 ROCK CREEK CHURCH ROAD, NW
WASHINGTON , D.C.   20010

Susan Crane
Jonah House
1301 Moreland Ave.
Baltimore, Maryland 21216                   

Gold Star Families for Peace
P.O. Box 1672
Bellflower Ca. 90707                                    

Kevin Martin
Peace Action/Peace Action Education Fund
1100 Wayne Ave., Suite 1020  
Silver Spring, MD 20910

Max Obuszewski
National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistancer  
325 East 25 th Street                                              
Baltimore , MD 21218                                          

Gael Murphy
Voices for Creative Nonviolence
1249 W. Argyle Street #2
Chicago, IL 60640

Ann Wright
Veterans For Peace
216 S. Meramec Ave.
St. Louis , MO 63105                                              

Jay Marx  
Washington Peace Center 
PO Box 50032
Washington, D.C. 20091                                                 

Kevin Zeese
Voters For Peace 
6930 Carroll Avenue, Suite 240
Takoma Park , MD 20912                                          

Bill Moyer
Backbone Campaign
PO Box 278
Vashon , WA 98040