VA Vets for Freedom Update

Today, Vets for Freedom is releasing our second TV ad in the “Four Months for Victory” campaign. The ad, “Some in Washington,” contrasts the thoughts of Washington lawmakers on the surge with the realities on the ground in Iraq. The ad will be running in Virginia, and is available here.

Yesterday, Sen. Barack Obama gave an address in Washington, DC on his plans for Iraq and Afghanistan. Here’s some excerpts:

· It has been 18 months since President Bush announced the surge. As I have said many times, our troops have performed brilliantly in lowering the level of violence. General Petraeus has used new tactics to protect the Iraqi population. We have talked directly to Sunni tribes that used to be hostile to America, and supported their fight against al Qaeda. Shiite militias have generally respected a cease-fire. Those are the facts, and all Americans welcome them.

· In the 18 months since the surge began, as I warned at the outset - Iraq's leaders have not made the political progress that was the purpose of the surge. They have not invested tens of billions of dollars in oil revenues to rebuild their country. They have not resolved their differences or shaped a new political compact.

Here’s what some of our local representatives had to say on the surge when President Bush announced it in 2007:

· “None of the previous surges in troop levels had any lasting effect on the war, and there is no credible reason to believe that this surge will be any different.” Floor Remarks of Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-3), on Feb. 16, 2007
· "The President's 'surge' proposal will only result in a surge in the number of U.S. soldiers injured or killed in Iraq. Rep. Jim Moran (VA-8), on Jan. 9, 2007
· “We need a new direction.” Sen. Jim Webb, in the Democratic response to President Bush’s 2007 State of the Union Address

We have that new direction. More importantly, it’s working.

This year alone, the Iraqi government has passed laws on de-Baathification and criminal amnesty, and defined the power structure between Iraq’s central government and the Iraqi provinces. The provincial powers law provided for provincial elections to be held this year or early next, allowing Iraqis to again set the course of their country democratically.

Since the surge began in 2007, the Iraqis have contributed more and more to their country’s reconstruction and security. Iraq’s budget in 2007-when the surge began-allocated $10 billion for reconstruction, an increase of 21% over the previous year’s budget. It also provided for $73 billion to be spent on security for the country. The 2008 budget has $11 billion budgeted for reconstruction and capital investment.

The point of our campaign is to get the facts out to the people of Virginia so that they are well informed on both the military and political progress being made daily by the Iraqi people, with the assistance of our brave men and women in uniform. With that in mind, I’m asking you to forward this email to ten of your friends and associates this week, and ask them to sign up to support our efforts in Virginia.

In the coming weeks, Virginia Vets for Freedom will hold our first organizational meetings in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. These meetings will allow you to learn more about Vets for Freedom, meet the state leadership, and learn more about our state strategy for the upcoming months. Also, look for similar updates each week in your email.

I look forward to working and meeting with all of you in the near future. Working together, we can make Virginia Vets for Freedom the loudest voice for victory in the Commonwealth!!

Coby Dillard
State Captain
VA Vets for Freedom