Last week, the House of Representatives passed a bill that will bring most of our troops home from Iraq by April 1, 2008. The Senate is now considering similar legislation, sponsored by Senators Levin (D-MI) and Reed (D-RI). This bipartisan amendment to the 2008 Defense Authorization bill will require President Bush to begin reducing the number of American troops in Iraq within four months -- getting most troops out of Iraq by April 30, 2008 -- and to transition the mission of our remaining military forces there to force protection, training of Iraqi Security Forces, and counter-terrorism missions.
As violence in Iraq continues to grow and American military troops are caught in the crossfire of a sectarian civil war, it's more and more obvious that an urgent change of course is needed. The Levin-Reed legislation is a real alternative to the president's failed Iraq policy, and represents a critical first step in ending the occupation of Iraq.
However, [many] senators are currently expected to stick with President Bush's failed policies. In fact, it looks likely that Senate Republicans (plus Joe Lieberman) will filibuster the Levin-Reed amendment to prevent it from coming to a vote. Whether from misguided loyalty to the President...or a deeply distorted view of the reality on the ground in Iraq...their obstinacy will carry a very heavy price for both our armed forces and our nation as a whole.
Tell your senator(s) to allow debate on Levin-Reed so the Senate can begin bringing our troops home.
You can find the link to their form here.
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