EastBayDFA June Meeting Follow-up Action Issues

Written by: stephen venuti on Jun 16, 2006 12:44 PM EDT

First we would like to thank everyone who came to our first meeting at the Coffee Depot in Warren - as well as all of you who tried but couldn't make it. We had a lively discussion. And everyone left primed for action. So here are a couple items, on which, we would like to ask everyone to take action.

1) The Hidden Agenda in Iraq. As we discussed, and as detailed in the Newsweek article "Stuck in the Hot Zone" www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12441799/si... the United States is spending half a billion dollars to build the world's largest embassy in Iraq, consisting of 21 buildings - nearly as large as Vatican city. The US is also spending billions more constructing military bases throughout Iraq. But no one is talking about it? Why not? Does anyone really believe we would invest so much if there are any intentions of leaving Iraq?

Take Action - call Senator Reed and Congressmen Kennedy and Langevin ask them to stand up and speak out. Talk to your friends. Call radio and TV stations. Write to the Newspapers. Call Sheldon Whitehouse and ask him to take a position. No matter where one stands on the issue - the country deserves no less than a fair, open and honest dialogue on the subject. Let's do what we can to make everyone aware.

2) Proposed Rhode Island Legislation to allow police access to phone records without a warrant. We are lucky that the media picked up on this effort leading to the proposed legislation being pulled. But if they tried it once - it is likely that they will try again.

Take Action - stay aware. Bills before the legislature are public information and can be read online at dirac.rilin.state.ri.us/BillStat...

We hope to see you again at the July meeting. Bring a friend! Thank you,

Stephen & Dianne

Tags:
Location: Barrington and surrounding East , RI 02806