Letter from Reps. Lynn Woolsey and Barbara Lee, RE: Iraq Redeployment Bill

Rec'd via e-mail~

Dear babsis,

As many of you know, today the House is set to bring up H.R. 4156, the Orderly and Responsible Iraq Redeployment Appropriations Act. While this bill is not perfect, it is the strongest Iraq bill to date, and there’s no way that we would’ve reached this point if it wasn’t for the work of Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), and all of you. The work that you all have done, and the leadership that PDA has shown in delivering tens of thousands of signatures as part of its Peace Pledge have helped move the ball forward.

We know that most of you are disappointed that the end date of having our troops out by December 2008 included in the bill is a goal and not a requirement. So are we.

But let’s be clear about what this bill accomplishes--this is the first time that this Congress has put forth a bill that ties funding to the responsible redeployment of our troops, and it also includes language mandating a start date for the President to begin the redeployment of our brave men and women. The bill also incorporates the principles put forth in H.R. 508, and provides for a regional stability plan which includes diplomatic, political, and economic strategies.

And most importantly, this is a concrete step in the right direction, and an important marker for this Congress to lay down.

Sincerely,

Rep. Lynn Woolsey and Rep. Barbara Lee
Co-Chairs, Congressional Progressive Caucus

bombed back to the stone age almost

As much as I respect Lynn Woolsey and Barbara Lee, and the Progressive Caucaus, the lameness of this bill disgusts me. I will celebrate Bush's veto if the bill reaches his desk. And hope congess can find the spine to either do better, or stop funding this madness altogether.

Stop funding war crimes. Not one more dime for wars of aggression!

fund it, and as Swanson noted, they're caving:

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/28711

Woolsey, Lee, Waters Get Together and Cave
Submitted by davidswanson on Wed, 2007-11-14 18:09. Congress

After organizing 90 members to lie to the public with this pledge not to fund the occupation, three key Congress Members will encourage their colleagues to cave and vote to fund the continuing occupation of Iraq. Here's the AP story:

Liberal Dems Back Party's War Bill
By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Three leading House anti-war Democrats said they now back a $50 billion bill that funds the war but calls for most troops to come home by December 2008.