[0] Dear Friend:In 2002 I voted against a bill authorizing the use of military force against Iraq because I had serious reservations. I did not believe that the President had made a persuasive case that Saddam Hussein was stockpiling weapons of mass destruction or that he was on the verge to giving them to terrorists. I did not believe that Iraq was the central front in the War on Terror and I did not see any evidence that the Bush Administration had a plan to rebuild the country after the war. Tragically, I was proven correct.
As the war continues to drag on I am increasingly concerned that President Bush is hoping to leave this mess for the next President to fix. That is why I am introduced H.R. 3938, the Bring Our Troops Home Responsibly Act of 2007. The legislation would, among other things do the following (find the full text here)
- Repeal the authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002
- Require that President Bush begin the withdrawal of our troops from Iraq within thirty days, and require him to complete that withdrawal by January 20, 2009 (the last day of his Presidency)
- Require the President to implement the findings of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, assist with the rebuilding and reconstruction of Iraq, engage in vigorous diplomatic efforts to enlist the assistance of other regional and global actors in these efforts, and provide humanitarian assistance to the millions of Iraq refugees that have been displaced by the sectarian violence in Iraq.
Because President Bush refuses to take responsibility for his failed strategy I believe it is time for Congress to act. My bill would allow the United States to safely and responsibly begin bringing our troops home from Iraq, while at the same allow us to fulfill our responsibilities to the Iraqi people.
I hope you will join me in this fight by becoming a Citizen Co-Sponsor of the "Bring Our Troops Home Responsibly Act of 2007"