Troop Withdrawal Referendum

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why should the United States begin an immediate withdrawal from Iraq?

• We won the war. In deposing Saddam Hussein and helping the Iraqis to elect a government, we have already won the war. The original reason for going in to Iraq—to search for weapons of mass destruction, is no longer relevant because government and military investigators have now acknowledged that WMDs do not exist in Iraq.
• The Iraqis do not want us there. Recent Gallup polls taken inside Iraq show that only a third of the Iraqi people now believe that the American-led occupation of their country is doing more good than harm, and a solid majority support an immediate military pullout even though they fear that could put them in greater danger. The newly elected Iraqi legislature has also passed a resolution asking for an immediate American withdrawal.
• We cannot afford the war. By the end of next year the war will have cost approximately $221 billion. Federal budget watchers estimate that the $221 billion for Iraqi Freedom is just $1 billion less than the total annual cost of the National Cancer Institute, FBI, pollution control, foreign aid, NASA, agricultural support payments, food stamps, non-defense homeland security, health research and training, highways, financial aid to college students, and federal support for grade-school education and high-school education.

Why should troop withdrawal begin with the National Guard and Reserves?

• Too much sacrifice is being asked of the “part time warriors.” National Guard and Reserves represent about half of all U.S. combat forces in Iraq, or double the share in early 2004. The National Guard and Reserve suffered more combat deaths in Iraq during the first 10 days of August — at least 32, according to a Pentagon count — than in any full month of the entire war.
• Equipment Shortages. The Guard and Reserves have been sent to Iraq without the proper armor. In many cases, parents of soldiers have spent their own money to send armored chest plates and other security items.
• Recruitment Crisis. Recently the Pentagon announced that as of July 31 the Army National Guard was running 23 percent behind in recruiting for the year and the Army Reserve was 20 percent behind. The major reason for the recruitment shortages is the Iraq War.
  

Why do we need a referendum question on the ballot?

• To Support Our Troops. We believe that the best way to support our troops is to bring them home safely. A referendum question will allow citizens to deliver that message to the politicians.
• Growing numbers of citizens want to see our troops come home. Polls show that more than 50% of Americans want to see some or all troops withdrawn from Iraq immediately.
• Other cities have endorsed similar resolutions. Almost 40 towns in Vermont have endorsed withdrawal resolutions. "Bring the Troops Home" resolutions have also been passed in Amherst, Mass. and Arcata, Calif. And last November in San Francisco voters endorsed Proposition N, an anti-war statement declaring, "The federal government should take immediate steps to end the U.S. occupation of Iraq and bring our troops safely home now."

What happens if the referendum passes?

• Possibly nothing.The referendum is just advisory. If the referendum were to be passed in April of 2006 that does not mean that troop withdrawal will actually begin.
• Possibly something. We will send the politicians a message. If the referendum question passed with a solid majority of supporters, the Congress and President Bush might step up their efforts to bring the Iraq war to a close.

Final Thought: Remember, signing this petition does not mean that you necessarily support withdrawal. Rather, signing the petition means only that you believe in democracy with a small d.

Prepared by Tony Palmeri