Rep. McGovern to Introduce Bill to Bring Troops Home

PDA has learned that this week, our friend and ally Rep. Jim McGovern will introduce new legislation, which replaces HR 4232 “End the War in Iraq Act of 2005”. In the new bill, “The Safe and Orderly Withdrawal Act,” the U.S. would begin the safe and orderly withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq within 30 days of enactment to be completed within 180 days. The withdrawal would be paid for by already appropriated funds and all funds for deployment of U.S. troops would be terminated upon completion of the withdrawal.

Nothing in the bill would prohibit funds to be spent on social and economic reconstruction, or to assist Iraqi armed forces or a multinational force. It allows for US military assigned to security of the US Embassy and US diplomats to remain in Iraq, and at the request of the Iraq government, the Army Corps of Engineers. More.

Exclusive PDA interview with Rep. Jim McGovern
By David Swanson, PDA Board Member

In an exclusive interview conducted Jan. 22 for PDA by David Swanson, Rep. McGovern commented on a range of issues, excerpted here.

The urgency of this moment: "This war has gone on longer than our involvement in WW II. It is time to, you know, to step it up a notch and to urge Congress to finally live up to its constitutional responsibility."

Upcoming "supplemental" funding bills: "I don’t want to be talking about emergency supplementals, you know, in 2008 or 2009. I want this war over! I don’t want the next Presidential election to be about the war in Iraq." More.

Podcast: Tony Trupiano visits with Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA)
Listen to this podcast.

United for Peace and Justice, a march dedicated to [b>Ending the War Now!. (Some of us will also march for impeachment.)

TIP: Buy a dozen or more Impeachment Shirts, bring them to D.C., sell them at a profit, and pay for your trip.

Come to the workshops and trainings (including on how to lobby for investigations with the ultimate goal of impeachment) on January 28th and come with us to meet with your Congress Member and Senators on January 29th. It's not too late to register.

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There are some Democrats in congress!

Let's keep this one kicked

Those who are against the war in Iraq and yet vote to fund it or vote for non-binding resolutions, are co-conspirators in this war.

McGovern is one of the very best we have ...

Jim was one of the earliest backers of Deval Patrick, our new Governor ... he worked the street corners and held signs right out there with "the little people" ...

McGovern's bill, and one or two other proposals are the gold standard on Iraq ... we should do all we can to make those running for President specifically comment on McGovern's proposal ... all this talk about "when bush leaves office" or "maybe in a year or so" is crap ... STOP THE WAR NOW ...

is there anyone, even people supporting candidates who don't agree with McGovern's proposal, who truly believe anything positive at all can happen as a result of continued US occupation? would you put your life or your child's life on the line to back up that view?

c'mon folks ... if your candidate isn't onboard with leaving as quickly as troop safety permits, tell them you want them to get with the program ... staying just does not make any sense ... the US military role in Iraq, regardless of what some would want to have happen, is OVER ... it's just plain OVER ... get our troops out of there ... we can't hold back the tide of what the Iraqis choose to do to each other ... maybe it shouldn't be that way but it is ...

Upcoming "supplemental" funding bills: "I don’t want to be talking about emergency supplementals, you know, in 2008 or 2009. I want this war over! I don’t want the next Presidential election to be about the war in Iraq."

This is exactly what is going to happen if Congress approves the 2008 Iraq supplemental which will be submitted in a few weeks. So much for "a new direction", more like "stay the course."