Michigan-- We Need Your Help! - June 09, 2004
Call Senator Levin and ask him to put the brakes on US military involvement in Colombia!
Call Senator Levin's office before the end of the day on Wednesday, June 16th-- 202-224-6221-- and ask to speak with the defense policy aide. Here's a sample message: "My name is _____ and I am a constituent from ____ (if leaving a message, leave phone number). I would like you to put the brakes on US military involvement in Colombia by supporting the House version of the Colombia troop cap when the Defense Authorization Bill goes to conference. I don't think the US should get more deeply involved in another complex foreign conflict, and I have serious concerns about the human rights record of the Colombian military and their relationship with brutal paramilitary groups. I hope you will support the lower cap on US troops that was written into the House version of the defense bill."
**talking points for your call included below**
Background: As early as the end of next week, House and Senate members will come together to work out differences in their versions of the 2005 Defense Authorization Bill. This bill contains a section that limits the number of US troops and contractors allowed in Colombia. The House version limits US personnel to 500 troops/400 contractors, while the Senate version increased the number to 800 troops/600 contractors. While neither of these numbers is ideal, writing the House version into law will prevent an expansion of US military involvement in Colombia, and show the Bush Administration-- which has pushed hard for an increase in troops-- that it can't take Congress' support for granted.
We need your help in this first important step to put the brakes on US military involvement in Colombia. Senator Levin will sit on the conference committee, which works out the final version of the bill; he will hold a significant amount of power over which version of the troop cap becomes law. We need to persuade Senator Levin to support the lower cap. That's where you come in.
Before Wednesday, June 16th, please call Senator Levin's office (202-224-6221 in DC, or 313-226-6020 in Detroit) with the message above.
If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me at estarmer@lawg.org (do not hit 'reply' to this message) and I will get right back to you. Thank you, as always, for all of your help and hard work!
Best,
Elanor
Talking Points: Why support the House troop cap in Colombia?
* The House version of the troop cap limits US military involvement in Colombia to 500 troops and 400 contractors, while the Senate version increases that number to 800 troops and 600 contractors. With US engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan proving far more complex and difficult than the Administration expected, Congress should not increase US involvement in yet another complex and difficult foreign war.
*The increase in the number of troops and contractors requested by the Administration represents a serious escalation of US military involvement in Colombia.
*The Colombian military is not an appropriate ally for the United States. Sectors of the Colombian military collaborate with human rights abusers, and violate human rights themselves. According to the United Nations, direct human rights violations by the Colombian military increased last year, and even the US State Department admits that Colombia has failed to break ties with brutal right-wing paramilitary groups. The United States should insist on reforms, NOT reward this lack of progress with more military support.
*There is another way, and a better use of our tax dollars. Our resources should be used to support a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Colombia. We can help bring human rights abusers to justice by aiding Colombia's justice system and helping protect the individuals who work for human rights. We can reduce violence by cracking down on the flow of weapons into Colombia. And we can deal a blow to the guerillas and paramilitaries by supporting poor, rural Colombian communities where the armed groups often recruit. The residents of these communities are often forced into service for the armed groups because they have no other financial option. If we support efforts to lift them out of poverty, we weaken the armed groups.
We should also increase drug treatment funding in the United States so our nation's demand for drugs does not keep fueling Colombia's conflict.
Jess Hunter
Senior Associate
U.S. Office on Colombia
1630 Connecticut Ave, NW Suite 201
Washington, DC 20009
Tel: 202-232-8090
Fax: 202-232-7530
Email: jess_hunter@usofficeoncolombia.org
Web: www.usofficeoncolombia.org