Senator Barack Obama (video) continues to deny the surge has worked, even though most Americans recognize the FACT that it has. The same is believed by vice-presidential candidate Senator Joe Biden. (Video may be viewed at MSNBC.)
This is why Vets For Freedom is making a point of getting everyone in Congress on the record as to whether or not they believe the surge has worked. We deserve to know where our elected officials stand and how they determine foreign policy issues. If they cannot concede to this success, do we really want Sen. Obama to be Commander-in-Chief?
There is a new video that the Vets For Freedom have made. It is a very good one, and all they are doing is asking Congress to support Senate bill 636. They want to make sure our men and women are given the opportunity to win each battleground area, to be supported, to succeed. In essense, they want the Congress not to change their minds halfway through a war that they’ve sent REAL LIVE people into harms way. Never again…here is the link: Success is Relevant, Senator.
If you could please put pressure on our supposed elected officials, here are some suggestions to get you started. Remember, whenever addressing members of the government, BE POLITE no matter how much of an a**hole they are. 😉
Vets for Freedom has launched our “Truth about the Surge” media and grassroots campaign. The campaign is intended to inform the American public, and key lawmakers, about the undeniable success that our troops have achieved as a result of the surge, and the importance of ensuring victory in Iraq, Afghanistan and the overall Global War on Terrorism.
In the coming weeks our objectives are twofold:
Tell your members of Congress to support the surge and our troops by supporting Senate Resolution 636 and creating a similar resolution in the House. We need your help, call your member, write a Letter to the editor and spread the word about the success of the surge and importance of ‘walking the walk’ and showing their support by voting yes for Senate Resolution 636.
Click Here (.pdf) to view a Dear Colleague letter from Senators Graham and Lieberman for SR 636.
Telling your friends and neighbors the importance of the surge and missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. The American people have the right to know that we are and with your help will WIN the war in Iraq. The surge has worked and we need you to help spread the word.
“Truth about the Surge” will only succeed if our members are willing to volunteer their time. But isn’t this the least we can do, with our fellow Soldiers, Marines, Airman, and Sailors still serving overseas? We need you to volunteer to write Letters to the Editor, attend events, make phone calls, call into local radio shows, and exploit targets of opportunity. We will be running TV ads in most of these states as well to further spread the message.
What do you mean, ‘What is Sen. Res. 636’? I did not explain it? D’oh! 😉
Update: Before I give the Senate resolution, let me please implore you to make 10 phone calls. Eight will be to people whom we have a strong sense that we will co-sponsor this bill, and two will be to your own Senators. Here is the toll free number: 1-866-340-9281. Here is what you should ask:
1. Please be a “co–sponsor” of Senate Resolution 636.
2. Please do whatever you can to bring the Resolution to the Senate floor for a vote.
3. Please the courage to vote “yes”–on the record—about the success of the surge.
Every U.S Senator needs to hear from Iraq & Afghanistan veterans, and those who support them, about the importance of praising our troops for all they have accomplished.
Here are the names and numbers of the eight people you should contact:
Susan Collins (R-ME) – 202.224.2523
John Warner (R-VA) – 202.224.2023
Judd Gregg (R-NH) – 202.224.3324
Chuck Hagel (R-NE) – 202.224.4224
Gordon Smith (R-OR) – 202.224.3753
Olympia Snowe (R-ME) – 202.224.5344
Arlen Specter (R-PA) – 202.224.4254
George Voinovich (R-OH) – 202.224.3353
Your 2 Senators. Follow this link for a directory of all U.S. Senators.
Thank you for your help. It is so much appreciated. Now here is the Senate Resolution 636.
Senate Resolution 636:
S.RES.636.
Title: A resolution recognizing the strategic success of the troop surge in Iraq and expressing gratitude to the members of the United States Armed Forces who made that success possible.
Sponsor: Sen Lieberman, Joseph I. [CT] (introduced 7/31/2008)
Cosponsors (28)
Latest Major Action: 7/31/2008 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
TEXT OF THE BILL.
Recognizing the strategic success of the troop surge in Iraq and expressing gratitude to the members of the United States Armed Forces who made that success possible. (Introduced in Senate)
SRES 636 IS
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 636
Recognizing the strategic success of the troop surge in Iraq and expressing gratitude to the members of the United States Armed Forces who made that success possible.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESJuly 31, 2008
Mr. LIEBERMAN (for himself, Mr. GRAHAM, Mr. MCCAIN, Mr. ENZI, Mr. MARTINEZ, Mr. BOND, Mr. WICKER, Mr. CORNYN, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. ALLARD, Mr. THUNE, Mr. BARRASSO, and Mr. INHOFE) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
————————————————–
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the strategic success of the troop surge in Iraq and expressing gratitude to the members of the United States Armed Forces who made that success possible.
Whereas, by the end of 2006, it had become clear that, despite exceptional efforts and sacrifices on the part of the United States Armed Forces in Iraq, the United States was pursuing a failed strategy in Iraq;
Whereas, by the end of 2006, large-scale sectarian violence was accelerating throughout Iraq, al Qaeda had established significant safe havens there, militias sponsored by the Government of Iran had seized effective control of large swaths of Iraq, and the Government of Iraq was suffering from political paralysis;
Whereas, by the end of 2006, insurgents and death squads were killing more than 3,000 civilians in Iraq each month and coalition forces were sustaining more than 1,200 attacks each week;
Whereas, in December 2006, the Iraq Study Group warned that `the United States is facing one of its most difficult and significant international challenges in decades’ in Iraq and that `Iraq is vital to regional and even global stability, and is critical to U.S. interests’;
Whereas, in December 2004, Osama bin Laden said the following of the war in Iraq: `The most important and serious issue today for the whole world is this Third World War. . . . The world’s millstone and pillar is Baghdad, the capital of the caliphate.’;
Whereas, on January 10, 2007, in an address to the Nation, President George W. Bush acknowledged that the situation in Iraq was `unacceptable’ and announced his intention to put in place a new strategy, subsequently known as `the surge’;
Whereas President Bush nominated and the Senate confirmed General David H. Petraeus as the Commander of Multi-National Forces–Iraq, a position he assumed on February 10, 2007;
Whereas General Petraeus, upon assuming command, and in partnership with Lieutenant General Raymond Odierno, the Commander of Multi-National Corps–Iraq, and United States Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker, developed a comprehensive civil-military counterinsurgency campaign plan to reverse Iraq’s slide into chaos, defeat the enemies of the United States in Iraq, and, in partnership with the Iraqi Security Forces and the Government of Iraq, reestablish security across the country;
Whereas, under the previous strategy, the overwhelming majority of United States combat forces were concentrated on a small number of large forward operating bases and were not assigned the mission of providing security for the people of Iraq against insurgents, terrorists, and militia fighters, in part because there were insufficient members of the United States Armed Forces in Iraq to do so;
Whereas, as an integral component of the surge, approximately 5 additional United States Army brigades and 2 United States Marine Corps battalions were deployed to Iraq;
Whereas, as an integral component of the surge, members of the United States Armed Forces were deployed out of large forward operating bases onto small bases throughout Baghdad and other key population centers, partnering with the Iraqi Security Forces to provide security for the local population against insurgents, terrorists, and militia fighters;
Whereas additional members of the United States Armed Forces began moving into Iraq in January 2007 and reached full strength in June 2007;
Whereas, as a consequence of the additional forces needed in Iraq, in April 2007 the United States Army added 3 months to the standard year-long tour for all active duty soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the United States Marine Corps added 3 months to the standard 6-month tour for all active duty Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan;
Whereas, as an integral component of the surge, members of the United States Armed Forces began simultaneous and successive offensive operations, in partnership with the Iraqi Security Forces, of unprecedented breadth, continuity, and sophistication, striking multiple enemy safe havens and lines of communication at the same time;
Whereas, as an integral component of the surge, additional members of the United States Armed Forces were deployed to Anbar province to provide essential support to the nascent tribal revolt against al Qaeda in that province;
Whereas those additional members of the United States Armed Forces played a critical role in the success and spread of anti-Qaeda Sunni tribal groups in Anbar province and subsequently in other regions of Iraq;
Whereas, since the start of the surge in January 2007, there have been marked and hopeful improvements in almost every political, security, and economic indicator in Iraq;
Whereas, in 2007, General Petraeus described Iraq as `the central front of al Qaeda’s global campaign’;
Whereas, in 2008, as a consequence of the success of the surge, al Qaeda has been dealt what Director of Central Intelligence Michael Hayden assesses as a `near strategic defeat’ in Iraq;
Whereas, as a consequence of the success of the surge, militias backed by the Government of Iran have been routed from major population centers in Iraq and no longer control significant swaths of territory;
Whereas, as a consequence of the success of the surge, sectarian violence in Iraq has fallen dramatically and has been almost entirely eliminated;
Whereas, as a consequence of the success of the surge, overall insurgent attacks have fallen by approximately 80 percent since June 2007 and are at their lowest level since March 2004;
Whereas, as a consequence of the success of the surge, United States casualties in Iraq have dropped dramatically and United States combat deaths in Iraq in July 2008 were lower than in any other month since the beginning of the war;
Whereas, as a consequence of the success of the surge, the Government of Iraq has made significant strides in advancing sectarian reconciliation and achieving political progress, including the passage of key benchmark legislation;
Whereas, as a consequence of the success of the surge, the Iraqi Security Forces have improved markedly and approximately 70 percent of Iraqi combat battalions are now leading operations in their areas; and
Whereas, as a consequence of the success of the surge, General Petraeus concluded in 2008 that conditions on the ground in Iraq could permit the additional brigades and battalions dispatched to Iraq in 2007 as part of the surge to be safely redeployed without replacement, and all such brigades and battalions have been successfully withdrawn without replacement: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate–
(1) commends and expresses its gratitude to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces for the service, sacrifices, and heroism that made the success of the troop surge in Iraq possible;
(2) commends and expresses its gratitude to General David H. Petraeus, General Raymond Odierno, and Ambassador Ryan Crocker for the distinguished wartime leadership that made the success of the troop surge in Iraq possible;
(3) recognizes the success of the troop surge in Iraq and its strategic significance in advancing the vital national interests of the United States in Iraq, the Middle East, and the world, in particular as a strategic victory in a central front of the war on terrorism; and
(4) recognizes that the hard-won gains achieved as a result of the troop surge in Iraq are significant but not yet permanent and that it is imperative that no action be taken that jeopardizes those gains or dishonors the service and sacrifice of the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who made those gains possible.
If you still have questions or you would like to join the Vets For Freedom, please visit Vets For Freedom-Join Us. Thank you so much for all that you do to support those who are giving much more than we could ever repay and they ask nothing in return…except maybe a little respect. I do NOT think that is too much to ask. As a matter of fact, I demand it of myself. How about you?
Cross-posted @ The Talon and Rosemary’s Thoughts.
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