Who loves KerryMail???

[demdiva]

I'm happy Senator Kerry is still pushing this initiative forward. Last night I watched an NBC News ITunes flashback of Nixon explaing why we shouldn't invade Latin American dictatorships and it gave me chills ... I couldn't help but to make a connection to all these troubles in Iraq. It's really important that the Senator keeps pushing this plan.

Dear XXX,

It's as simple as this. Most members of Congress, myself included, share some responsibility for getting us into Iraq. We've got to take responsibility for getting us out.

Since April, hundreds of thousands of you have joined me in calling for a change in policy, a change in course -- for Iraq, and for Americans here at home. Now let's turn the volume up higher. Washington needs to hear your voice.

The violence continues to spiral in Iraq. But, instead of a deadline to bring our troops home and put the future of Iraq in the hands of Iraqi leaders, we get half-hearted comments about past mistakes, and cynical political calculation.

Last month, I introduced Senate Joint Resolution 36 which calls for the withdrawal of our combat troops from Iraq by the end of this year. In the next few weeks, I am urging the Senate to take a strong stand on Iraq and pass this Resolution. It's time to put the future of Iraq where it belongs - in the hands of the Iraqi people and their leaders. Our valiant soldiers have done their job.

Tell your Senators: support Senate Joint Resolution 36 to bring our combat troops home in 2006

President Bush wants to stumble along, perpetuating his mistakes for the remainder of his time in office. He's even suggested that decisions about withdrawing all of our troops from Iraq will be for the next president to make.

And, instead of statesmanship, the president's top advisor, Karl Rove, is worrying that the war has put voters in a "sour mood" for the 2006 elections. He should be worried about the safety of our troops, not the job security of Republican congressmen.

It took President Bush three years to admit he was wrong to say 'bring it on.' We can't afford years to go by until he admits the standstill in Iraq today is wrong.

Tell your Senators: support Senate Joint Resolution 36 to bring our combat troops home in 2006

After months of squabbling and delay, we now hear that the new Iraqi government will complete its cabinet in a matter of days. So, it's time to act -- time to keep the pressure on.

Iraqi leaders have only responded to deadlines -- a deadline to transfer authority to a provisional government, a deadline to hold three elections, and their own constitutional deadline to establish a unity government.

Now we must set another deadline to get our combat troops out and get Iraq up on its own two feet. We must agree with the new Iraqi government on a schedule for withdrawing American combat forces by the end of this year.

Doing so will empower the new Iraqi leadership, put Iraqis in the position of running their own country, and undermine support for the insurgency, which is fueled in large measure by the majority of Iraqis who want us to leave their country.

Tell your Senators: support Senate Joint Resolution 36 to bring our combat troops home in 2006

Our soldiers have done their job, and America is grateful to them for their honor and sacrifice. Now it's time for the Iraqis to do their job of securing and governing their country and it is time to get our combat troops home in 2006. Only troops essential to finishing the job of training Iraqi forces should remain.

We need blunt talk and clear plans -- and only pressure from you can force Washington to change course.

I am committed to forcing Congress to speak out on Iraq. Yesterday in Los Angeles I made it clear that I'm not going to stop fighting until we have a change in policy. I urge you to keep supporting our efforts to force action when lives are on the line and leadership is desperately needed.

Sincerely,

John Kerry

[MH1]

1. I do, I do!

But haven't got that one yet.

Meanwhile, there is a related post in GD about Kerry saying he will offer an amendment for the same purpose.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1335660&mesg_id=1335660

[ProSense]

2. Posted

in GD-P

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2658795&mesg_id=2658795

[beachmom]

3. Hey -- check this out -- Tom Friedman coming out now for a deadline

to withdraw troops:

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002612352

NEW YORK New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman, who supported the U.S. invasion of Iraq more than three years ago, and has repeatedly called for staying the course there since, on Friday for the first time suggests setting a deadline for U.S. withdrawal.

Friedman observes that "it is time for America to starting talking 'deadlines.' Too many Iraqi factions think they can just keep wrestling each other for small advantage while the country burns, but the U.S. Army provides a floor of security that prevents total chaos. The Iraqi parties need to know that we are not going to be played this way forever. Only an Iraq that can come together and make a fist can crush this militia culture."


Hmmmm . . . doesn't that logic sound a bit familar? I think this is a big deal, guys, because Friedman is a liberal hawk. We need to get the liberal hawks to get to Kerry's way of thinking first. And even liberal doves who were against the war, but who think we "can't abandon the Iraqis". Those people frustrate me the most. They think they're being responsible without understanding that we've been there for 3 years and it hasn't gotten better. How is staying longer going to improve matters if it hasn't thus far? Anyway, I thought this was really good news. In general, I always liked Friedman; it's just Iraq where I parted ways with him.

[demdiva]

4. hmm...I do believe I've heard that somewhere before

I have heard several people start to endorse a plan similar to Senator Kerry's. I wish they would give him credit for speaking out for it long before it was popular!