Iraq

[cellio]

Lots of good links in this post.

I don't know if it actually matters, but when I write to my congresscritters I try to apply honey rather than vinegar, showing how we're not so different even though we might be on opposite sides of an issue, and so on. (I do not, of course, lie, but I attempt spin. I don't claim to be good at it.)

That said, here is the letter I sent to my two Republican senators today.


Dear Senator [name],

I am writing to urge you to oppose signing a blank check for war with Iraq at this time. I am not one of those bleeding-heart liberals who opposes war at all costs; I believe that war can be justified and that a future war with Iraq could be. However, the rule of law is very important. Absent an immediate threat, we must work through channels.

The UN has many flaws, but it is the body that we have chosen to work with in addressing international matters. We must not go to war without UN support and aid. If Saddam Hussein is the threat we think he is, then he threatens everyone, not just us, and we should not have to go it alone. And if he is not the threat the President says he is, then all we will do by attacking is to call down the fury of the rest of the world upon us. We may be the most powerful nation on earth, but we still have to live with all of the others, so it behooves us to follow the rules.

Thank you for your consideration.

[signature, address]



How'd I do?

Comments

[gigglefaerie.livejournal.com]

That was very well put.

[tangerinpenguin.livejournal.com]

I checked Thomas.gov, and Senator Spector made a number of extended remarks on Monday (the latest day online) expressing concerns. The two specific arguments I found were (to paraphrase) a concern that the scope requested by the President would constitute a potentially unconstitutional delegation of Congressional authority to the Executive, and a concern that the President was calling for a "preventive" attack rather than a truly "pre-emptive" attack, and that while the latter has precedent for being legitimate, the former has traditionally been condemned. He also specifically rejected the suggestion that the President was making this proposal "to finish what is father started" or for other reasons other than a sincere concern for national security.

I was unable to find any statements from Senator Santorum on the subject so far this month.

[My apologies for not including references; Thomas is giving me temporary cache URLs, and I haven't figure out yet how to properly bookmark specific passages.]

[Also, since I would not like to torque off the distinguished gentlemen from Pennsylvania, whom I am not notifying of this post, I would like to explicitly state that it is not my intention in naming them to suggest motives on either's part, but simply to summarize the substance of arguments made during a public meeting in order to advance thoughtful public discussion.]

[cellio]

Thanks for the information!

[Also, since I would not like to torque off the distinguished gentlemen from Pennsylvania, whom I am not notifying of this post, I would like to explicitly state that it is not my intention in naming them to suggest motives on either's part, but simply to summarize the substance of arguments made during a public meeting in order to advance thoughtful public discussion.]

Nice. Very nice. :-)

Good job

[lefkowitzga.livejournal.com]

Excellent letter. My preferred mode of writing includes application of honey and appeal to the recipient's self-interest. I think you have incorporated both, tbough who knows how much it will help.

[cellio]

Thanks.

Just out of curiosity, do I know you (or vice versa)? I'm always mildly curious when new people visit my journal. Anyway, hello and welcome to my little corner of cyberspace.

Re:

[gigglefaerie.livejournal.com]

Nope, you don't know me and I don't know you. I like the subject matter of your journal so I added you. My name is Theresa and its nice to meet you. =)

[dagonell.livejournal.com]

Just out of curiousity, let us know if you get any answers. Cigfran and I did this recently and got back three weasel-worded form letters that could be sent out to any unthinking pro or anti Iran supporter and appear to be agreeing with you. In actuality, none of them said anything and allow for the politician to vote either way without actually 'reversing a stand'.