You Did It! Harry Reid Backed Down!

CODEPINK: Women For Peace

December 21, 2006

Dear CODEPINK Supporter,

Many thanks to those of you who took action this week to contact Senator Harry Reid
about his remarks that he would support sending more troops to Iraq. His office was
flooded with calls and emails on Tuesday! Below is a statement Senator Reid posted
yesterday, saying that he does NOT support an escalation of the conflict and wants
to bring out troops home. Let?s be clear: He only backed down because of the
pressure he felt from the grassroots. Let?s see this as an important victory, and a
lesson that we must be on constant alert to push this new Congress to end the war.

Good job!
Your friends at CODEPINK

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Statement by Senator Harry Reid, December 19, 2006

Frankly, I don't believe that more troops is the answer for Iraq. It's a civil war
and America should not be policing a Sunni-Shia conflict. In addition, we don't have
the additional forces to put in there. We obviously want to support what commanders
in the field say they need, but apparently even the Joint Chiefs do not support
increased combat forces for Baghdad. My position on Iraq is simple:

1. I believe we should start redeploying troops in 4 to 6 months (The Levin-Reed
Plan) and complete the withdrawal of combat forces by the first quarter of 2008. (As
laid out by the Iraq Study Group)

2. The President must understand that there can only be a political solution in
Iraq, and he must end our nation's open-ended military commitment to that country.

3. These priorities need to be coupled with a renewed diplomatic effort and regional
strategy.

I do not support an escalation of the conflict. I support finding a way to bring our
troops home and would look at any plan that gave a roadmap to this goal.

It's been two weeks since the Iraq Study Group released its plan to change the
course and bring our troops home. Since then, the President has been on a fact
finding tour of his own administration -- apparently ignoring the facts presented by
those in the military who know best. The President needs to put forth a plan as soon
as possible, one that reflects the reality on the ground in Iraq and that withdraws
our troops from the middle of this deadly civil war.
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P.S. Don't forget to check out our plans for the mass mobilization in Washington
D.C. on January 27th. Find out more about our upcoming actions and how to join us
here. (http://www.codepink4peace.org/article.php?list=type&type=182)