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Durbin did vote for Sen. Merkley's accelerated-withdrawal amendment
(<a
href="http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=2&vote=00210">see
here)</a>, along with nearly all of the Senate Dems. Note this
looks to be a House letter. But it is notable that they don't list
Tim Johnson as having signed on yet - that's worth asking him to
do... <br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 12/2/12 10:30 PM, Brussel Morton K.
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:6C02DDF7-303E-4940-9D49-19B8A8D4067C@comcast.net"
type="cite"><base href="x-msg://95/"><br>
<div>How interesting that our Senator Durbin is not a signatory to
this letter.</div>
<div>--mkb</div>
<div><br>
<blockquote type="cite"><span class="Apple-style-span"
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<div>
<h1 style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 24pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; "
align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial,
sans-serif; color: black; ">Join Bipartisan Letter
to President Obama Urging Accelerated End to War
in Afghanistan<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<h2 style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 18pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; font-weight: bold; "><span
style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color:
black; ">From: The Honorable Barbara Lee<br>
Sent By:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:teddy.miller@mail.house.gov?subject=RE:%20Join%20Bipartisan%20Letter%20to%20President%20Obama%20Urging%20Accelerated%20End%20to%20War%20in%20Afghanistan"
title="mailto:teddy.miller@mail.house.gov?subject=RE:
Join Bipartisan Letter to President Obama Urging
Accelerated End to War in Afghanistan"
style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;
">@mail.house.gov</a><br>
Date: 11/30/2012<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<h1 style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 24pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; "
align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial,
sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 205); ">Join
Bipartisan Letter to President Obama</span><span
style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color:
black; "><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<h1 style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 24pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; "
align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial,
sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 205); ">Urging
Accelerated End to War in Afghanistan</span><span
style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color:
black; "><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<h1 style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 24pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; "
align="center"><em><u><span style="font-family:
Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">Deadline
Extended: Wednesday, Dec. 5</span></u></em><span
style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color:
black; "><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; "><strong><span style="font-family: Arial,
sans-serif; color: black; ">Current signers
(70): Lee,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></strong><strong><span
style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color:
red; ">Jones</span></strong><strong><span
style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color:
black; ">, McGovern, Adam Smith, Conyers,
Grijalva, Kucinich, Woolsey, Holt, Rangel,
Slaughter, DeFazio, Olver, Watt, Hanabusa, Rick
Larsen,</span></strong><strong><span
style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color:
red; ">Campbell</span></strong><strong><span
style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color:
black; ">, Velazquez, Serrano, Sires, Honda,
Rush, Loebsack, Lujan, Tsongas, Ellison, Barney
Frank, Welch, Schakowsky, Blumenauer, Chu,
Quigley, Christensen, John Lewis, Chris Murphy,
Mike Thompson, Sarbanes, Markey, McDermott,
Towns, Richardson, Cohen, Farr, Waters, Nadler,
Stark, Norton, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Michaud,
Hahn, Gutierrez, Braley, Speier, McDermott,
Yvette Clarke, Garamendi, Moore, Alcee Hastings,
Bonamici, Kaptur, Pingree, Edwards, Bass, Polis,
Lofgren, Tierney, George Miller,<span
class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></strong><strong><span
style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color:
red; ">John Duncan</span></strong><strong><span
style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color:
black; ">, Hank Johnson, Keating, Capps,
Cicilline.</span><o:p></o:p></strong></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; "><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">Dear Colleague,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">Yesterday the
Senate passed an amendment by Senator Jeff Merkley
(D-OR) by an overwhelming bipartisan 62-33
majority calling for an accelerated end to the war
in Afghanistan. I invite you to read this<span
class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g1q02ZQIPtYX5AeVJ795X2PAjkcQ?docId=87485e925d954a5f9df4047597a79320"
title="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g1q02ZQIPtYX5AeVJ795X2PAjkcQ?docId=87485e925d954a5f9df4047597a79320"
style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;
">AP article</a>analyzing this groundbreaking
vote.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">The momentum to
end the war and bring our troops home is building,
but there are still those working to prolong the
war. With the Pentagon due to present alternate
long-term option on Afghanistan to the President
in the coming weeks, it is critical that Congress
catch up with the American people who have long
realized that there is no military solution in
Afghanistan.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">We invite you
to become a co-signer to the letter below to
President Obama, calling for an accelerated end to
the war in Afghanistan. The overwhelming majority
of Americans, Republicans and Democrats alike,
believe it is time to bring a responsible end to
the war in Afghanistan.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">To join as a
co-signer, please contact Teddy Miller in Rep.
Lee’s office at 5-2661 or<span
class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:teddy.miller@mail.house.gov"
title="mailto:teddy.miller@mail.house.gov"
style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;
">@mail.house.gov</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
Arial, sans-serif; color: black; "><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">Thank you,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
Arial, sans-serif; color: black; "><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">Barbara Lee
Walter Jones<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">Member of
Congress Member of Congress<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
Arial, sans-serif; color: black; "><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; text-align: center; " align="center"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial,
sans-serif; color: black; "><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; text-align: center; " align="center"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial,
sans-serif; color: black; ">December 5, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
Arial, sans-serif; color: black; "><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">The Honorable
Barack Obama<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">President of
the United States<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">The White House<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">1600
Pennsylvania Avenue NW<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">Washington, DC
20500<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
Arial, sans-serif; color: black; "><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
Arial, sans-serif; color: black; "><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">Dear President
Obama:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">Your military
advisors will soon be providing you with a set of
military options in Afghanistan. We are writing to
urge you to pursue a strategy in Afghanistan that
best serves the interests of the American people
and our brave troops on the ground. That strategy
is simple: an accelerated withdrawal to bring to
an end the decade-long war as soon as can safely
and responsibly be accomplished.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">After 10 years
and almost $600 billion spent, over 2,000 American
lives lost, and 18,000 wounded - it is time to
accelerate the transition to full Afghan control.
While NATO and Afghan National Security Forces
have made considerable strides, no military
strategy exists and morale has been undermined by
the proliferation of “Green on Blue” attacks.
Sixty coalition soldiers have been killed this
year alone by their Afghan allies. To quote a
former Commandant of the Marine Corps, “When our
friends turn out to be our enemy, it is time to
pull the plug.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">This is one
issue that overwhelmingly unifies Americans: the
desire to bring the war in Afghanistan to an
accelerated close. Polls show over two-thirds of
Americans, on a bipartisan basis, believe it is
past time to end our combat role and bring the
troops home.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">We write to
request that you respond to the consensus amongst
military experts, diplomats, and the American
people. It is time to announce an accelerated
transition of security responsibility to the
Afghan government and to bring our troops home as
soon as can be safely and responsibly
accomplished.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">Al Qaeda’s
presence has been greatly diminished and Osama bin
Laden is no longer a threat to the United States.
There can be no military solution in Afghanistan.
It is past time for the United States to allow the
Afghanistan government to assume responsibility
for its own security.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">While many of
us would prefer an immediate withdrawal from
Afghanistan starting today, there is broad
recognition that the primary objectives have been
completed. We also would like to remind you that
any long term security agreement committing U.S.
troops to the defense of Afghanistan must have
congressional approval to be binding. In addition,
we would like to request a meeting to discuss
these issues directly with you and your staff.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in;
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
serif; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">We look forward
to working with you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
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