HUNGER STRIKE IN THE GALLERIES OF CONGRESS

On Monday, July 9, I will begin a silent vigil in the galleries of the House and Senate, attempting to represent the 76% of Americans and 90% of Iraqis who want us to get out of Iraq.

I will be wearing black in honor of all the American and Iraqi families who have lost loved ones in this illegal, immoral war perpetrated in our name for the basest of motives.

And I will maintain a total fast (no food, only water) to stress how urgent the need is for us to leave, as more are being killed every hour.

I have no intention of demonstrating, harassing or confronting; I will simply keep a respectful silence unless Congresspersons want to come up to talk.  I am asking that no supporters or media people approach me while I'm there, to avoid producing any kind of distraction from the business I hope Congress will be about, i.e., finally taking back the power of the legislative branch to end this war, which they never should have given the president the power to launch in the first place.

This is not what I had in mind for my 'golden years' (I am 68, with two granddaughters, 5 and 7, whom I adore), but I feel someone has to inject some humanity back into what has become a political game of chess.  My hope is that this can be accomplished before Congress adjourns for the summer Aug. 6.  If before then I become too weak to make it to Capitol Hill, I hope someone will step up to take my place, if only for a short time.  And then someone else...  as long as it takes until this mission is accomplished.

It is my own belief that all our troops should be withdrawn from Iraq immediately and in full, or those remaining will be more vulnerable.  Before the 'surge', Mr. al-Maliki asked that all U.S. forces be withdrawn completely from Baghdad, and was talking to former officers to reconstitute the army for the people's protection.  Instead, Mr. Bush sent more of our troops into that cauldron, and the Iraqi forces went back to being 'insurgents' to drive out the occupiers from their country (wouldn't we?).  As for worsening the situation for the Iraqi people if we leave, I believe they (90%) know better than we what will be the lesser of the evils for them in this tragic civil war we have touched off.

But if that total withdrawal is more than many in Congress can dare, I propose as a minimal gesture that the first contingent of our troops which is not replaced by another be brought home to their families for Christmas.  Perhaps America's appreciation will convince more in Congress that their popularity will grow, not diminish, if they bring our troops out of this terrible war.

My cell phone number while in D.C.:  360-536-5243.