[Peace-discuss] Fwd: Two important issues before Congress

[C. G. Estabrook via Peace-discuss]

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> VFP Legislative Priorities
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> November, 2014
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> For VFP, there are two especially important issues before Congress in these last months of the year:
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> Stopping the U.S. war in Iraq and Syria
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> Stopping the militarization of U.S. police forces
> Contact your members of Congress with the information provided below.  (Toll free:  1-877-429-0678)
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> Identify yourself as a member of Veterans For Peace.  
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> Ask to speak to the legislative aide who handles military affairs. 
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> Try to start a dialogue; ask for a response on these issues.
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> 1. Stop the U.S. war in Iraq and Syria
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> The White House claims they need Congress to approve $5.6 billion before they can send the 1,500 additional troops to Iraq that were announced earlier this month.  There may also be votes to authorize these military interventions.  Tell your member of Congress to oppose funding and oppose authorization of these new wars. 
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> There are better ways to respond to the threat posed by ISIS, including:
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> accelerating humanitarian assistance for displaced people,
> halting the flow of US arms to the region,  
> pressuring allies to halt the financing and the flow of weapons and IS personnel through their territories,
> prioritizing diplomatic intervention under United Nations auspices, 
> insisting on a renewed peace process for Syria that includes all parties, 
> involving Iran and other regional actors in the negotiations over Iraq’s future, which include the diversity of groups within that country. 
> While none of these options are fool-proof, an American war is a proven failure.
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> VFP Chapter 49 – Indianapolis has created a good two-page summary on alternative responses to crises in the Middle East.
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> 2. Stop militarization of police in the U.S. 
>    H.R. 5478: Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act  
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> would help keep military hardware out of  the hands of civilian police.  Tell you Representative to co-sponsor this bill and call for hearings in the House Armed Services Committee. 
> The gross militarization of the police as seen in Ferguson MO clearly shows that a review of the 1033 Weapons Transfer Program is immediately needed.
> Since its creation, the program has distributed at least $4 billion worth of equipment to local police departments.
> The program was suspended in 2012 because some states lost track of equipment!  Unfortunately it was restarted in 2013. 
> Police officers are not at war with American citizens - they are here to serve and protect us. It only makes sense that if we arm them like soldiers going into battle, they will think we want them to act like soldiers.
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> Thank you for raising the powerful veteran voice in Congress!
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> Sincerely,
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>                  Michael T. McPhearson                      Virginia Druhe
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> Veterans For Peace, 216 S. Meramec, St. Louis, MO 63105, 314-725-6005    www.veteransforpeace.org
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