Congressional Debate on Iraq 2

The time is long overdue for a congressional debate on Iraq that is focused on producing a clearly defined goal for the termination of our country's active military involvement. Unlike the brief closed debate you held in the House of Representatives earlier this year, we ask for this new one to be honest, open, and lengthy enough to enable the Democratic minority to play a meaningful role. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

The war is now in its 4th year. Military and civilian deaths, as well as monetary costs, have risen to unconscionable levels. Violence has spread to other countries in the Middle East. In spite of all this, you have scheduled Congress to adjourn on October 6th, 87 days before the end of the year! For the House of Representatives, this totals less than 100 days at work in our nation's capital. Not only is this a drastic reduction from last year's total of 141, but it is also the shortest schedule since the 108 days posted by the "do-nothing" Republican Congress in 1948. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Under these circumstances, we do not think it is too much to ask that you schedule a few additional days for the Senate and House of Representatives to hold a special joint session on Iraq. We believe we speak for the vast majority of our fellow Americans in requesting that this special session takes place THIS YEAR, preferably before the November 7th election!


[NOTES: 1. Don't be confused by some of the petition links referring to this year's historically brief congressional work schedule. Some compare days per year, while others double those figures because they count days per two-year Congress. 2.This petition was initiated on September 20, 2006. As of that date, Congress was still scheduled to adjourn on October 6th. To see if the adjournment date has been changed since then, please refer to the Senate and House of Representatives calendars.]