FRI 10/14: Cindy Sheehan Joins CA Legislators Urging Gov. to Recall Guard From Iraq

'Peace Mom' Cindy Sheehan Joins Military Families, California Assembly Members Mark Leno, and Loni Hancock to Urge Governor Schwarzenegger to Recall California National Guard from Iraq

WHEN: Friday, October 14th at 10:30am

WHERE: Outside the Governor’s San Francisco office
455 Golden Gate Ave., Suite 14000
San Francisco, CA 94102

WHO: Cindy Sheehan, Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), Rep. for Assemblywoman Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley) and members of Veterans for Peace, Gold Star Families for Peace, Military Families Speak Out and CodePink.

SAN FRANCISCO (Oct. 13) -- Cindy Sheehan, the grieving military mother whose August vigil outside President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas focused the nation's attention on the human cost of the Iraq war will be in San Francisco outside Governor Schwarzenegger’s office joined by California legislators to urge him to recall the California National Guard from Iraq.

California Assemblywoman Loni Hancock introduced a resolution (AJR 36) on September 2nd, that would limit federal control of the California National Guard to cases where there is an insurrection or a declaration of war under the United States Constitution.

"Californians have joined the National Guard thinking that they would be serving their neighbors by helping with California-based emergencies, unless there was a danger to the United States requiring transfer to active duty"

AJR 36 California National Guard Bill:
http://www.aroundthecapitol.com/billtrack/billview.html?bill=AJR_36

If Schwarzenegger chose support the effort to bring the guard home from Iraq, by using his influence on the White House or congress, it would not be unprecedented move by a governor. Last March, Gov. Brian Schweitzer of Montana called for the return of National Guard troops serving in Iraq to help out in what many feared would be a record-setting wildfire season.

Sheehan, whose son Casey, of Vacaville, CA, was killed in Sadr City while serving in the Army last year, delivered a letter to Schwarzenegger’s office in Sacramento on Wednesday asking that he withdraw California Guard from Iraq and that he meet with her.

In her letter to the Governor Cindy Sheehan wrote in part:

"California is suffering each day as its law enforcement, corrections and firefighters are called to a war in Iraq which does not protect the people of California, leaving the state in a weakened position. California tax dollars are also disproportionately spent on this war. California men and women are killed and maimed in this war, and their families are left in ruins, as I too well know."

(Entire letter to Governor available upon request.)

To date 210 troops from California have been killed in Iraq, including members of the California National Guard. California has lost more soldiers in Iraq than any other state in the union.

Last Monday, Jerry Bonifacio Jr., an California National Guard soldier also from Vacaville, died in Iraq from an explosion in Baghdad while protecting the Green Zone, a fortification designed to keep American officials safe.

A CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll last month found that 59 percent of people surveyed considered the 2003 invasion of Iraq a mistake, 63 percent said they wanted to see some or all U.S. troops withdrawn, and only 32 percent approved of Bush's handling of the conflict.

Sheehan also has met with members of Congress in their Washington, DC offices last month to discuss their leadership in bringing our troops home from Iraq immediately.

During the meetings with Congress members, Sheehan asked the same questions she wanted to ask President Bush: What is the "noble cause" that brave Americans like Casey Sheehan have died for? How many more lives are we as a country willing to sacrifice in Iraq? How many are you personally willing to sacrifice? What are you specifically doing to bring our sons and daughters home from this needless war?

“So far this month 33 American troops have been killed in Iraq, and in September 49 American troops died. In the last month 8 of those were from California. Our elected officials must all take responsibility for this war, and take action to bring an end to it,” Sheehan said.

“We believe a strong—a good Democratic or Republican leader or candidate has to stand up and say, it‘s a war based on lies. We should never have gone there. We shouldn't be there. And let‘s lead our troops out now."

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