Syria votes are in. Here are our next steps.

MoveOn members voted overwhelmingly to oppose US military strikes on Syria. Congress has the power to put the brakes on this rush to war—can you call your member of Congress now and tell them to vote 'No' on an Authorization to Use Military Force in Syria? Here are the numbers to call:  Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Phone: (202) 224-4451 Senator Charles Schumer Phone: (202) 224-6542 Representative Gregory Meeks Phone: (202) 225-3461 Click Here to Report Your Call!

Dear MoveOn member, 

Yesterday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee began debating whether to authorize the use of military force in Syria in response to reports of chemical weapons use by the Syrian government.¹

Because this is such a big decision, we asked every MoveOn member to weigh in on whether MoveOn should support or oppose the congressional authorization to use military force in Syria.

The results are in, and they are unequivocal: 

73% said MoveOn should oppose the congressional Authorization to Use Military Force in Syria.

History has shown again and again that even a "limited" military engagement can quickly become a slippery slope to seemingly endless war. But stopping this war is within reach.

Consistent polling shows that the majority of Americans are opposed to this military intervention, and more than 147 members of Congress are on record as firmly opposed to or leaning against it.² But mainstream media outlets and many elected officials are trying hard to make us think that strikes are inevitable.³

So we need to unleash the power of our more than 8 million member community right away to make it clear to Congress that we oppose military action in Syria. Congress will vote on the authorization to use military force as soon as next week, and members of Congress are making up their minds right now, so we need to act fact.

Can you call your Senators and Representative right now and tell them to 'Vote No' on the use of military force in Syria? Here are the numbers to call:

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Phone: (202) 224-4451

Senator Charles Schumer
Phone: (202) 224-6542

Representative Gregory Meeks
Phone: (202) 225-3461

Then, please report your calls by clicking here. 

MoveOn members across the country have been sharing thousands of reasons for voting to oppose the authorization for the use of military force. Here are a few comments that capture some common themes we're hearing: 

"There is no evidence that the use of force by the US will prevent any further attacks in Syria and it may lead to yet another quagmire in the Middle East."  -Neema B., San Diego, CA

"Although I am adamantly opposed to chemical warfare, military strikes used as a 'lesson' to change this behavior could kill many innocent people as well—children among them."—Fran S., Houston, TX

''It is very unclear what military force would accomplish other than to insert more violence. It seems this authorization is more political than strategic and will not result in a positive outcome. Enough violence!"—Amir R., South Natick, MA

In the early 2000s, MoveOn members helped lead the charge in opposing the misguided U.S. war on Iraq. Now, just over a decade later, the nation again finds itself positioned to enter a war half-way around the world with a country posing no direct threat to our safety or security and with unknowable consequences for years to come. 

President Obama is proposing a military strike that raises the specter of another Iraq War—and we're still dealing with the costs of that war today. It's critical that every one of MoveOn's 8 million members pick up their phones today to let Congress know plain and simple: We oppose a military intervention in Syria. 

Can you call your members of Congress right now? When you do, be sure to tell them why it's so important for you that they vote 'No' on an Authorization to Use Military Force in Syria. Here are the numbers to call again:

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Phone: (202) 224-4451

Senator Charles Schumer
Phone: (202) 224-6542

Representative Gregory Meeks
Phone: (202) 225-3461

Then, please report your calls by clicking here. 

Thanks for all you do. 

–Anna, Mark, Susannah, Linda, and the rest of the team

Source:

1. "Obama says U.S. will take military action against Syria, pending Congress's approval," The Washington Post, August 31, 2013
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=293097&id=74381-10220574-u5ftZWx&t=4

2. "Whip Count: Tracking Congressional Support for War With Syria," Firedoglake, September 4, 2013
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=293124&id=74381-10220574-u5ftZWx&t=5

3. "The American People Really Don't Want To Bomb Syria (POLLS)," The Huffington Post, September 3, 2013
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=293121&id=74381-10220574-u5ftZWx&t=6

 

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