If you can, please contact Sen. John Warner and ask him support Jim Webb's pro-troop "dwell time" amendment. A vote is scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday). Keep in mind that Webb's amendment received 56 votes last time, but was filibustered. With Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD), we have 57 votes, but we need 3 more. One of those is John Warner, who reportedly is receiving pressure from the White House. Please call him and let him know you want our troops to spend at least as much time at home ("dwell time") as they don in combat. That's the way it's always been, except in this war. It's time to change that, for the good of our troops. Thanks.
John Warner (R-Virginia)
DC: (202) 224-2023
Roanoke: (540) 857-2676
[UPDATE: Jim Webb just introduced his amendment. How much you want to bet John Warner once again talks a good game but, in the end, goes with the White House line?]
I can't get through to DC either, but I got through to Roanoke, Abingdon, and Midlothian. No answer in Norfolk and the mailbox was full! The district offices all say they are passing it on to DC.
I encouraged the Senator to support Webb's troop rotation amendment, and also the Leahy-Specter-Dodd Amendment, restoring Habeas Corpus.
If it is blocked by Republicans, Sen. Reid should force the Republicans to literally filibuster the measure as long as they can. That would make news! It would make it clear to the public that it is Democrats who really support the troops.
Senator Warner:
I strongly support and urge your support for Senator Jim Webb's "amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 to specify minimum periods between deployments of units and members of the Armed Forces deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom."
Senator Webb has offered a number of reasons you, Senator Warner, should show Virginians support our troops by voting for this amendment and take affirmative action for our men and women serving us in our military.
I agree with Senator Webb:
"Regardless of your politics-whether you want to see troop withdrawal tomorrow or in years from now-this is about providing a safety net for our men and women in uniform. Period.
After 4 ½ years of occupying Iraq, it is time for the availability of troops to dictate the operational tempo, and not the other way around. We need to be proper stewards of our men and women in uniform. We cannot continue to burn out our troops in this fashion."
Sincerely,
Shawn O'Donnell
He is offering wavering republicans some political cover if and when the fail to vote to end the filibuster.
It's time for all of us who support our troops to stand up and act!Today in the United States Senate our own Sen. Webb is locked in a battle against the Bush administration to make sure our troops are safe, mentally, emotionally and physically healthy, and able to serve. His bipartisan Dwell Time amendment would make sure that our men and women serving overseas have as much time at home with their families as they have being deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Webb's Dwell Time amendment calls for a 1:1 deployment-to-dwell time ratio for all active duty servicemen and women.
Call Sen. John Warner today and tell him to support Sen. Webb's Dwell Time amendment. Our troops- and their families- are depending on him!
Senator John WarnerWashington, DC: (202) 224-2023
District offices
Midlothian: (804) 739-0247
Norfolk: (757) 441-3079
Abingdon: (276) 628-8158
Roanoke: (540) 857-2676You can read more about Sen. Webb's amendment here, and watch his explanation of it here.
Sen. Webb's Dwell Time amendment would help keep our soldiers safe. This is one of the ways we should support our troops! This is exactly the kind of work Democrats are doing- finding real solutions to problems in spite of constant Republican obstructionism!
Danae Jones
Communications Director
Democratic Party of Virginia