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Dear Member of Congress, We are elected city, school, education, county and state officials in Oregon. We’re sending this letter to Oregon's congressional delegation, urging you to direct the Administration to bring our Armed Forces home from Iraq and to cut off the funds for the Iraq War. This is a follow-up to a similar letter 65 elected officials sent to you in September 2007. Unfortunately, Congress failed to heed our call and continues to fund the war and Oregonians continue to suffer and die in Iraq. A year ago President George W. Bush announced his new Iraq strategy: a “surge” of more U.S. troops. The surge has “worked” in re- selling the Iraq war to the media, but it’s a failure for the people of Iraq and the U.S. American casualties – now standing at almost 4,000 dead and 30,000 wounded – continue to grow. According Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski’s office, 104 soldiers from Oregon or with strong ties to Oregon have died in the Iraq war. Nearly 8 million Iraqis – one-third of the population - are in need of humanitarian aid .According to United Nations data, over 700,000 residents of Baghdad – more than 10% of the population – fled the city during 2007. Our brave Armed Forces--including a disproportionate number from our state and communities—continue to be seen as an occupation force Iraqis. Our forces continue to be placed in harm's way. Every survey shows that more Iraqis than ever want to the Americans to leave. Congress has the "power of the purse" and must assert its responsibility to do what is right and just. We call on you to act in support of the safe and careful withdrawal of our troops from Iraq. This is the best way to “support our troops”. As elected officials, we are struggling to provide basic services at a time when the Iraq War's costs are mounting and mounting. As a nation, we have spent close to $500 billion on the Iraq war. Oregon's proportionate share of that cost through Fiscal year 2007 was over $3.7 billion. If Congress passes the war-related spending request for fiscal year 2008, Oregon taxpayers will have to pay an additional $1.25 billion, bringing total Oregon costs to close to $5 billion. Even after the bloodshed ends, we and our sons and daughters, and granddaughters and grandsons, will continue to pay for this war as part of the National debt and will need to pay for the care of physically and mentally wounded veterans . Domestic programs intended for needy, Oregon communities and families suffer the biggest cuts under the President's proposed budget for fiscal year 2009, including Low-income Home Energy Assistance, Community Development Block Grants, Housing Vouchers, and Child Care Assistance. Discretionary Grants to state and local governments would also be cut by 10 percent. We have been told by federal officials, time and time again, that federal funds for roads, schools, economic development, housing, corrections, tuition assistance, law enforcement, health care, mental health and all other purposes are limited because of the Iraq War. We are told to find "offsets" as the cost of the Iraq War explodes. We represent the vast majority of Oregonians who, for many reasons, understand the need to stop this war. Among us are those who mourn the deaths and injuries of our neighbors. Among us are those who mourn for the deaths and destruction suffered by the Iraqi people, and those who believe the war is counter to the true long term interests of the American people. And among us are those in cities where basic infra-structure is badly in need of rebuilding and repair; and those in cities where libraries have closed for lack of funds; and in counties where budget cuts have forced long time employees out of work, where parks have been shut down and essential services are at risk. We continue a massive involvement in conflict overseas, while we cannot solve our own pressing domestic issues. Please urge the Administration to bring our Armed Forces home from Iraq and please cut off funds for the Iraq War except those necessary for safe and prompt withdrawal of American military forces from Iraq.
Very truly yours, Pete Sorenson Lane County Commissioner Eugene, Oregon + many other signers
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