The Declaration of Peace - A Nonviolent Action Campaign For an End to the US War in Iraq

Archive Page ~ Summer 2010

Timothy Baer — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:10:34 +0000

The Declaration of Peace website homepage from May 19, 2010 to June 29, 2010.

http://declarationofpeace.org/next-steps-for-the-declaration-of-peace

May 2010 ~ A Renewed Call for Peace for Iraq and an End to the U.S. Military Occupation

After more than seven years of U.S. military occupation of Iraq, let us all renew our commitment to bring about our common goal of Peace for Iraq.

As U.S. military personnel are withdraw, many of them are being replaced by contracted mercenaries.

The people of Iraq desire sovereignty and self-determination. The humanitarian needs of Iraqis remain serious.

Voices for Peace must be heard!

Thank you for all of your committed actions for Peace.

Humanitarian Aid for Iraqis ~ Your support is needed

The Declaration of Peace is partnering with Iraqi Health Now to provide desperately needed medical aid and materials to Iraqis. Help support their work with your donation now!

A Real Change is Complete Withdrawal ~ Peace for Iraq is Possible!

Our efforts for Peace must continue in 2010 with diligence, ‘laser-like’ focus, and creativity.

Please write to the Obama-Biden Administration to let them know that real change in Iraq is a complete withdrawal of all U.S. troops and mercenaries from Iraq (not just a drawdown of forces to then be sent to Afghanistan). Write to: http://www.whitehouse.gov/

The Declaration of Peace calls on everyone to commit to take actions to move U.S. policy-makers to bring U.S. troops and military contractors out of Iraq and to work for Peace in Iraq.

Join us!

Communicate with Congress: For resources and tips on meeting with your members of Congress, click here.

Learn more about The Declaration of Peace campaign here.

Write to The Declaration of Peace at: info@declarationofpeace.org to share your ideas and event announcements.

Organizing Locally ~ Coordinating Nationally

“We The People Declare Peace!”

Archive Page ~ May 2010

Timothy Baer — Wed, 19 May 2010 17:18:42 +0000

The Declaration of Peace website homepage from September 2009 to May 19, 2010.

http://declarationofpeace.org/next-steps-for-the-declaration-of-peace

The Way Forward ~ September 2009

As the seventh year of the U.S. occupation of Iraq continues, let us all seek ways to strengthen each other’s work to bring about our common goal of Peace for Iraq.

Voices for Peace must be heard!

Thank you for all of your committed actions for Peace.

Aid for Iraqis ~ Your support is needed

The Declaration of Peace is partnering with two organizations providing desperately needed medical aid and materials to Iraqis: Direct Aid Iraq and Iraqi Health Now. Help support their work with your donation now!

A Real Change is Complete Withdrawal ~ Peace for Iraq is Possible!

Our efforts for Peace must continue in 2009 with diligence, ‘laser-like’ focus, and creativity.

Please write to the Obama-Biden Administration to let them know that real change in Iraq is a complete withdrawal of U.S. troops and mercenaries from Iraq (not just a drawdown of forces to then be sent to Afghanistan). Write to: http://www.whitehouse.gov/

Join us!

Communicate with Congress: For resources and tips on meeting with your members of Congress, click here.

Learn more about The Declaration of Peace campaign here.

Organizing Locally ~ Coordinating Nationally

“We The People Declare Peace!”

June 11, 2009: Action Alert: Call TODAY to Help Defeat War Funding Bill

Timothy Baer — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 07:08:49 +0000

Excerpt:

Call TODAY to Help Defeat War Funding Bill in Congress

Call your Representative TODAY — To oppose more war funding!

A vote on the supplemental war funding bill is likely to take place in the House of Representatives in the next few days.

Tell your Representative: “Vote NO on the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations bill.”

Call the Congressional Switchboard: 1-202-225-3121 and ask for your Representative’s office.

You can also call your Representative’s D.C. office directly. Find your Congressperson’s phone number by clicking here and entering your zip code.

The Supplemental Appropriations bill is now over $100 billion, with nearly $80 billion going to fund U.S. military occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

With the inclusion of IMF funding, there is growing opposition to this bill in Congress. There is a real chance this bill can be defeated. However, it is critical that every member of Congress hears from every voice for Peace.

Speak up! NOW is the time!

See the articles: War bill tally could top $105 Billion, Democrats Aren’t Yielding to Obama, and White House pitches war-funding measure

See the Summary: ‘Why Your E-mails and Calls to Congress Are So Important Now in Defeating War Funding’

See Talking Points here

Your message can be as simple as: “I’m calling to tell Representative ___ to ‘Vote NO on the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations bill.’”

Thank you!

Call TODAY to Help Defeat War Funding Bill in Congress

Call your Representative TODAY — To oppose more war funding!

A vote on the supplemental war funding bill is likely to take place in the House of Representatives in the next few days.

Tell your Representative: “Vote NO on the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations bill.”

Call the Congressional Switchboard: 1-202-225-3121 and ask for your Representative’s office.

You can also call your Representative’s D.C. office directly. Find your Congressperson’s phone number by clicking here and entering your zip code.

The Supplemental Appropriations bill is now over $100 billion, with nearly $80 billion going to fund U.S. military occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Speak up! NOW is the time!

See the articles: War bill tally could top $105 Billion, Democrats Aren’t Yielding to Obama, and White House pitches war-funding measure

See the Summary: ‘Why Your E-mails and Calls to Congress Are So Important Now in Defeating War Funding’

See Talking Points here

Your message can be as simple as: “I’m calling to tell Representative ___ to ‘Vote NO on the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations bill.’”

Thank you!

June 6, 2009: A Real Chance to Defeat the War Funding Bill in the House

Timothy Baer — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:39:23 +0000

Excerpt:

A Real Chance to Defeat the War Funding Bill in the House, With Your Help

Because of the inclusion of billions of dollars earmarked for the IMF to bail-out European banks, there is a real chance that the 2009 Supplemental War Appropriations bill can be defeated in the House of Representatives.

But, it will require you to again contact your Representative to tell them: “Vote NO on the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations.”

After the House and Senate approval of their versions of the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations bill, last month, the total funding measure has now grown to $100 billion! The House will vote on a compromised war funding bill, next week.

We are asking you to do the following to help defeat the war funding bill:

Please read the Robert Naiman article here and the Action Alert from Just Foreign Policy below. The article contains valuable talking points for getting your message across.
E-mail your Representative this weekend. (Use your Rep’s website e-mail form.)
Then make a phone call to your Representative’s office on Monday.

Your message can be as simple as: “I’m writing/ calling to tell Representative ________ to ‘Vote NO on the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations__.’”

See the Robert Naiman article With IMF Money, the War Supplemental Could Fail in the House (http://www.truthout.org/060309R)

See the Summary: ‘Why Your E-mails and Calls to Congress Are So Important Now in Defeating War Funding’

See other Talking Points here

If you don’t know the phone number or website of your Representative, click here and follow the links to get to your Congressperson’s website. (The website will contain an e-mail webform and phone numbers.)

Or just call the Congressional switchboard 1-202-225-3121 and ask for your Representative’s office by name.

Thank you!

A Real Chance to Defeat the War Funding Bill in the House, With Your Help

Because of the inclusion of billions of dollars earmarked for the IMF to bail-out European banks, there is a real chance that the 2009 Supplemental War Appropriations bill can be defeated in the House of Representatives.

But, it will require you to again contact your Representative to tell them: “Vote NO on the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations.”

We are asking you to do the following to help defeat the war funding bill:

Please read the Robert Naiman article here and the Action Alert from Just Foreign Policy below. The article contains valuable talking points for getting your message across.
E-mail your Representative this weekend. (Use your Rep’s website e-mail form.)
Then make a phone call to your Representative’s office on Monday.

Your message can be as simple as: “I’m writing/ calling to tell Representative ________ to ‘Vote NO on the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations__.’”

See the Robert Naiman article With IMF Money, the War Supplemental Could Fail in the House (http://www.truthout.org/060309R)

See the Summary: ‘Why Your E-mails and Calls to Congress Are So Important Now in Defeating War Funding’

See other Talking Points here

Or just call the Congressional switchboard 1-202-225-3121 and ask for your Representative’s office by name.

Thank you!

The following is from Robert Naiman at Just Foreign Policy

With Your Help, The House Can Defeat the War/IMF Supplemental

The war supplemental expected to come before the House next week will have no exit strategy from Afghanistan, but it will have billions for the International Monetary Fund to bail-out European banks - money the IMF will use as leverage to impose economic austerity policies. Because of the inclusion of the IMF money, there is a real possibility the House could defeat the combined war/IMF supplemental, which would be a significant step towards ending the wars, as well as an important move towards reform of the IMF.

Can you call your Representative today, and ask him or her to vote no on the war supplemental? The Congressional switchboard is 202-225-3121: ask to be connected to your Representative.

Last month, 60 Members of the House voted against the war supplemental. But next week, the supplemental could be defeated on the floor of the House.

The key thing that’s changed since the last House vote is the Treasury Department’s insistence that the war supplemental include billions for the International Monetary Fund to be used as a bailout for European banks facing big losses in Eastern Europe - the international version of the Wall Street bailout.

House Republicans, including Minority Leader John Boehner, have threatened to vote no on the war funding if the IMF money is attached. If Republicans vote no, and if all the Democrats who voted no last month vote no again, the war supplemental would fail on the floor of the House, 200-228.

Can you call your Representative today, and ask him or her to vote no on the war supplemental?

If your Representative is a Republican, it may be especially helpful to emphasize opposition to the IMF bailout.

If your Representative is a Democrat, it may be especially helpful to emphasize the lack of an exit strategy from Afghanistan and opposition to the IMF’s austerity policies. The Congressional switchboard is 202-225-3121.

Thank you for all you do for a just foreign policy,

Robert Naiman

Just Foreign Policy http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/

Archive Page ~ June 2009

Timothy Baer — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 07:13:43 +0000

The Declaration of Peace website homepage from June 10 to June 29, 2009

No More Funding for War and Military Occupation in Iraq and Afghanistan

Please join the campaign to STOP the “2009 Supplemental Appropriations”

Call and Write members of Congress on June 10th and June 11th.

Tell your Representative to vote “NO”! on more war funding.

CLICK HERE and see Campaign Updates for more information on the Supplemental Appropriations, and writing and calling Representatives and Senators to STOP the War Funding!

June 5, 2009: Why Your E-mails and Calls to Congress Are So Important Now in Defeating War Funding

Timothy Baer — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 03:43:24 +0000

Excerpt:

Summary: ‘Why Your E-mails and Calls to Congress Are So Important Now in Defeating War Funding

June 5, 2009

• So it is very important that all Democrats and Republicans in Congress, including the ones who voted against the supplemental last time, hear from us! Their vote will really count, and will make a difference!

• Your effort in contacting your Representatives will really make a difference!

• Tell them to vote NO for two good reasons:

o To stop the war funding o To stop the IMF from imposing economic hardship

• When the war funding bill is defeated in the House, the story that will be told around the world is that there is unrest in Congress and in the United States about the seemingly never-ending wars, and that will bring closer the day that these wars end. Unrest in Congress helped bring about the U.S.-Iraq agreement for a withdrawal timetable, and the House vote against the U.S. bombing of Yugoslavia helped bring that bombing to an end.

Summary: ‘Why Your E-mails and Calls to Congress Are So Important Now in Defeating War Funding’

June 5, 2009

• On May 14, 2009, 60 members of the House of Representatives, including 51 Democrats, voted against the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations for Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq.

• One week later, the Senate passed its version of the supplemental that includes billions for the International Monetary Fund to bail-out European banks.

• This week, the House will vote on a new version of the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations bill presented by the House-Senate Conference.

• The war supplemental expected to come before the House this week will have no exit strategy from Afghanistan.

• Because of the inclusion of the IMF money, there is a real possibility the House could defeat the combined war/IMF supplemental, which would be a significant step towards ending the wars, as well as an important move towards reform of the IMF.

• House Republicans, including Minority Leader John Boehner, have threatened to vote no on the war funding if the IMF money is attached. If Boehner could bring all the Republicans with him, the war supplemental would fail on the floor of the House, 200-228, if most of the 51 Democrats who voted against the war supplemental last month stick to their NO vote this time.

• There are good reasons for Democrats to vote against IMF funding. While the billions of dollars for the IMF are touted as money to help poor countries in the current economic crisis, the fact is that IMF loans have been used to force cuts in social spending and increases in interest rates, on poor recipient countries, causing severe recessions and immeasurable economic hardship - the exact opposite of what is needed in a time of global recession.

• Can we count on the 51 democrats who voted no last month to vote NO again? Not necessarily. The House leadership didn’t need those anti-war Democrats before, so in a way it was a “free vote” - 51 Democrats could vote on behalf of their anti-war constituents without running afoul of the leadership. But if Treasury Dept. insists on the IMF money, and Republicans vote NO, the leadership will need 18 of those Democrats now to pass the supplemental.

• So, it is very important that all Democrats and Republicans in Congress, including the ones who voted against the supplemental last time, hear from us! Their vote will really count, and will make a difference!

• Your effort in contacting your Representatives will really make a difference!

• Tell them to vote NO for two good reasons:

To stop the war funding
To stop the IMF from imposing economic hardship

• When the war funding bill is defeated in the House, the story that will be told around the world is that there is unrest in Congress and in the United States about the seemingly never-ending wars, and that will bring closer the day that these wars end. Unrest in Congress helped bring about the U.S.-Iraq agreement for a withdrawal timetable, and the House vote against the U.S. bombing of Yugoslavia helped bring that bombing to an end.

Sources:

With IMF Money, the War Supplemental Could Fail in the House By Robert Naiman, June 3, 2009 (http://www.truthout.org/060309R)

Can Treasury Sneak IMF Money Through the Supplemental? By Robert Naiman, May 19, 2009 (http://www.truthout.org/051909J)

War funding fight gets complicated By David Rogers, June 2, 2009 (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/23263.html)

June 4, 2009: Rallying Call ~ Step Up Efforts to End the Wars

Timothy Baer — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:35:48 +0000

Excerpt:

Rallying Call: Step Up Efforts to End the Wars

The following is from our partner in Peace, Voters for Peace

Read and take action!

Organizing efforts must be reinvigorated to end the wars.

Click here to Write your members of Congress and President Obama now!

Rallying Call: Step Up Efforts to End the Wars

The following is from our partner in Peace, Voters for Peace

Read and take action!

Organizing efforts must be reinvigorated to end the wars.

Click here to Write your members of Congress and President Obama now!

The news today on foreign policy is bad on many fronts. It is time for the peace movement to step up its activities throughout the country.

The U.S. passed the 5,000th death of a U.S. service member in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This sad milestone is the tip of the iceberg of the dire effects of these wars - mass deaths and maiming of civilians, millions forced to flee their homes described as “an exodus that is beyond biblical.”

Wars are raging. The deadline for U.S. troops to leave Iraqi cities is rapidly approaching. To meet the deadline, the U.S. military and Iraq are redrawing city boundaries. So, the troops didn’t move but they are no longer within city limits. General Casey, the Army chief of staff, said the Pentagon must plan for extended U.S. combat and stability operations in two wars - up to ten more years in Iraq.

And, a new report from the Pentagon indicated that there were now nearly 243,000 private security contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is fair to call these people mercenaries since they do the jobs that service members did in Vietnam and other wars. When the mercenaries are added to the active duty troops it totals nearly 450,000 military personnel in the Iraq and Afghanistan-Pakistan wars.

And, to top off the hawkish news, on Monday President Obama appointed Rep. John McHugh to head the Army. McHugh, who has been in Congress since 1993, is the senior Republican on the House Armed Services Committee. McHugh, an advocate for military spending and a supporter of both wars, comes on top of the appointment of General McChrystal to head the Afghanistan War - a general whose commands have been tied to torture and abuse of prisoners.

On the torture front, General Petraeus, in a stunning admission, acknowledges the US has violated the Geneva Conventions and international law. General Sanchez, the former top coalition commander in Iraq, has called for a truth commission to investigate abusive interrogation practices. Former President Jimmy Carter disagreed with Obama’s decision not to release the torture photos and his failure to fully investigate torture and abuse to determine whether prosecution is necessary. Unfortunately, President Obama is doing all he can to block release of the photos, supporting a bill co-sponsored by Senators Joe Lieberman and Lindsay Graham that will re-write the Freedom of Information Act to prevent the release of the torture and abuse photos.

Is the news bad enough yet?

We need to consistently let our representatives know that we oppose these actions and organize events to push them to end these wars and apply the rule of law to torture.

You can write your representatives and President Obama by clicking here.

If you want to organize an event in your community we will publicize it to people in your area. Please let us know your plans and we can do a mailing to the Voters For Peace list in your area. Send an email to or visit the web calendar at http://votersforpeace.us/events/month.php.

If you don’t like the direction the country is going, it will not change without action by you and others. It is time to step up efforts to end the wars.

Sincerely, Kevin Zeese

Executive Director, VotersForPeace.US

As well, please post your events to The Declaration of Peace Events Calendar.

Thank you!

May 20, 2009: Tell Your Senators to Vote NO on War Funding

Timothy Baer — Wed, 20 May 2009 18:56:51 +0000

Excerpt:

TODAY: Tell Your Senators to Vote NO on War Funding

Debate on the Senate version of the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations bill began on Tuesday and continues today.

The $91.3 billion Senate bill provides $73 billion for U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan.

Voting on the war funding bill is expected later today or on Thursday.

TODAY, please make TWO easy phone calls to your Senators.

Tell them: “I’m calling to tell Senator … to vote NO on the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations bill. More war funding is wrong!”

TODAY: Tell Your Senators to Vote NO on War Funding

Debate on the Senate version of the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations bill began on Tuesday and continues today.

The $91.3 billion Senate bill provides $73 billion for U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan.

Voting on the war funding bill is expected later today or on Thursday.

TODAY, please make TWO easy phone calls to your Senators.

Tell them: “I’m calling to tell Senator … to vote NO on the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations bill. More war funding is wrong!”

Or take a little more time to write an e-mail message expressing your concerns.

But, please contact both your Senators TODAY. Thank you!

You can find your Senators contact information by clicking here __ … __input your zip code or look up your Senators’ last names in the directory, … go to your Senators’ websites to find the phone numbers and e-mail forms.

See Talking Points here.

See the Summary of the Senate Supplemental Appropriations bill here.

See the full text of the Senate Supplemental Appropriations bill here.

May 14, 2009: Shameful Vote in the House Passes War Funding Bill

Timothy Baer — Fri, 15 May 2009 05:00:51 +0000

Excerpt:

On Thursday afternoon, an overwhelming majority in the U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of the $96.7 billion Supplemental Appropriations bill, despite great constituent pressure to vote against war funding.

The spending measure provides over $84 billion for U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and increases U.S. involvement in Pakistan.

A sickening vote!

368 Congress members voted for more war funding, escalating U.S. military operations in Afghanistan and maintaining a high level of U.S. troops in Iraq through Sept. 30, 2009. Only 60 Representatives (including 9 Republicans) voted against more money for military occupations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Next week, a vote on the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations bill is expected in the full Senate, after the Senate Appropriations Committee today approved a $91.3 billion version of the war-funding bill.

Please tell your Senators to vote “NO” on funding devastating U.S. wars.

Click here to see the roll call vote tally on 2009 Supplemental Appropriations bill.

C-SPAN coverage of House Debate on War Appropriations ~ May 14, 2009 (1 hour 15 minutes)

Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey speaks against war funding ~ May 14, 2009 (29 minutes)

Amidst this tragedy in Congress today, an excellent article by David Smith-Ferri was published. Be sure to read “A New Way”.

The spending measure provides over $84 billion for U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and increases U.S. involvement in Pakistan.

A sickening vote!

Please tell your Senators to vote “NO” on funding devastating U.S. wars.

Click here to see the roll call vote tally on 2009 Supplemental Appropriations bill.

C-SPAN coverage of House Debate on War Appropriations ~ May 14, 2009 (1 hour 15 minutes)

Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey speaks against war funding ~ May 14, 2009 (29 minutes)

Amidst this tragedy in Congress today, an excellent article by David Smith-Ferri was published. Be sure to read “A New Way”.

May 12, 2009: National Call-In Day to Stop War Funding

Timothy Baer — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:22:02 +0000

Excerpt:

Join the National Call-In Day to Stop the War Funding on Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Voices for Peace must be heard!

Let Congress know that while we support funding for the safe withdrawal of troops, and for diplomacy, economic assistance and humanitarian aid, we oppose more money for war and military occupation.

Members of United for Peace and Justice, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Peace Action, Voters for Peace, The Declaration of Peace and other national organizations, coalitions and campaigns are joining together in calling our members of Congress on Tuesday, May 12th.

Call your Representative today!

Tell him or her to vote “NO” on the “2009 Supplemental Appropriations” bill.

Toll-free number for calling Congress on May 12th: 1-800-517-5696.

You will need to be transferred to your Representative’s office.

Or call your Congress person’s D.C. office directly. Click here to find your Representative’s phone number.

See more information on the Call-In Day here.

For more information on the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations, click here.

See Talking Points here.

Join us and spread the word!

Thank you for all of your committed actions for Peace!

Join the National Call-In Day to Stop the War Funding on Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Voices for Peace must be heard!

Call your Representative today!

Tell him or her to vote “NO” on the “2009 Supplemental Appropriations” bill.

Toll-free number for calling Congress on May 12th: 1-800-517-5696.

You will need to be transferred to your Representative’s office.

Or call your Congress person’s D.C. office directly. Click here to find your Representative’s phone number.

See more information on the Call-In Day here.

For more information on the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations, click here.

See Talking Points here.

Join us and spread the word!

Thank you for all of your committed actions for Peace!