Where Is Support for Bush's Iraquagmire Trending Up?

Not among the troops.

1,000 1,150 1,214 active-duty soldiers and Marines are urging lawmakers to support a quick withdrawal and anti-war soldier advocate groups planned to rally state legislatures. Active-duty members of our military who oppose the war have sent an "appeal for redress" to Congress.

Although they're duty-bound to carry out the president's orders, they have a legal right to use this means to express their views.The wording of the Appeal for Redress is short and simple. It is patriotic and respectful in tone.

As a patriotic American proud to serve the nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to support the prompt withdrawal of all American military forces and bases from Iraq. Staying in Iraq will not work and is not worth the price. It is time for U.S. troops to come home.

There are three sponsoring service-connected organizations sponsoring this movement among our military:

Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW):

IVAW was founded by Iraq war veterans in July 2004 to give a voice to the large number of active duty service people and veterans who are against this war, but are under various pressures to remain silent. IVAW calls for:

• Immediate withdrawal of all occupying forces in Iraq;
• Reparations for the pillaging and destruction of Iraq so that ordinary Iraqi people can control their own lives and future; and
• Full benefits, adequate health care (including mental health), and other supports for returning servicemen and women.

Military Families Speak Out(MFSO):

MFSO was formed in November of 2002, Before Bush started his un-provoked, unnecessary, largely unilateral invasion and unplanned occupation of Iraq (UULUIUOI)! MFSO is composed of people opposed to the war in Iraq who have relatives or loved ones in the military. Currently it claims 3,000 military families.

Veterans For Peace (VFP):

VFP is a national organization founded in 1985 composed of veterans from World War II , Korea , Vietnam , the Gulf War, other conflicts and peacetime veterans. Their name and breath of generations speaks for itself: their collective experience teaches that wars are easy to start and hard to stop.

All Americans who oppose prolonging this biggest mistake in their country's history should serve as amplifiers for the voices of these brave and patriotic soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines, especially as they contact their Congressional representatives and senators. As Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., said in a statement:

Somewhere those of us who represent the American people, and the American people themselves, must follow the lead of these men and women in uniform today and find a way to speak up and speak out about this unnecessary war.