An affinity group has formed in the Penobscot Bay region of Maine for the purpose of participating in the Occupation Project. On February 20, two members of the group visited the offices of Senator Olympia Snowe and Senator Susan Collins in Bangor, Maine, and had conversations with staff. We discussed the possibility of a U.S. attack against Iran and asked that each Senator respond to the question: Do you believe that President Bush has the authority to attack or invade Iran without congressional approval? We will be calling until we receive a response. A meeting with Senator Collins via videoconferencing has been requested. We have been told that Senator Snowe is too busy to meet with us. We brought photographs of Maine soldiers who have been killed in Iraq and talked about who they are and how we felt about them, including those we know who have been maimed and disabled.
Finally, the following letter was left to be delivered to Senator Snowe and a similar version for Senator Collins, along with the pledge to vote against funding, which we read aloud. We made a point of asking that the Senator show leadership in ending the occupation. In the coming days and weeks, there will be additional visits by different members of the group and requests to sign the pledge.
Members of the Eastern Maine Occupation Project come from the following organizations: Peninsula Peace & Justice, Island Peace & Justice, Maine Veterans for Peace, Democracy Street Theater, and Waldo County Peace Group, with support provided by the Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine.
LETTER TO SENATOR OLYMPIA SNOWE_
February 20, 2007
Senator Olympia Snowe One Cumberland Place Bangor, Maine 04401
Dear Senator Snowe:
“There is no military solution in Iraq,” according to a press release on your public web site. You have also expressed your disapproval of the president’s proposal to send additional troops to Iraq. Both of these sentiments are in keeping with those of the majority of Americans who want this occupation to end. It is clear that non-binding resolutions from the House and Senate will not influence the president’s actions.
In the fall of 2006, Congress approved a “bridge” fund of $70 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The president now requests another $93 billion in supplemental spending, and $142 billion for the coming fiscal year. By the government’s own accounting, there is more than enough funding already appropriated to safely and efficiently end the occupation and redeploy the troops. A vote for the president’s additional requests reveals an intention to support a U.S. military presence in Iraq for the indefinite future.
We respectfully request that you agree to vote against additional funds for Iraq and that you publicly announce your decision to do so.
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