Oppose the US sale
of F16 fighter jets to Turkey
Even as Turkish planes and drones rain bombs down on civilians in North-East Syria, President Biden is still calling on Congress to approve the sale of new F-16 fighter jets to Turkey. As the new chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Senator Cardin (D - MD) has the power to block this sale.
Please take a few minutes to call SEN. CARDIN AND your OWN Representatives by using our toolkit with a script for a phone call and instructions on how to contact Congresspeople.
A withdrawal of US troops from NE Syria would have disastrous consequences for the region
Additionally, we would like to bring to your attention that many progressive Democrats voted once again for a withdrawal of U.S. troops from North East Syria in a House vote earlier this year. The Democrats who supported the resolution included Reps Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, and Ayanna Pressley, along with veteran progressive legislators like Reps Earl Blumenauer, Jan Schakowsky, Barbara Lee, and Lloyd Doggett. A similar resolution was proposed in 2021 by NY Progressive Jamaal Bowman.
While both resolutions were voted down, it is disturbing that even progressive Congresspeople do not realize the disastrous consequences that an abrupt withdrawal of US troops would have for the people of NE Syria. As you may remember, the last attempt by the US to withdraw troops led to a massive Turkish invasion and ongoing occupation of parts of that area, accompanied by displacement and dispossession of hundreds of thousands of people. Moreover, a hasty withdrawal would inevitably lead to a resurgence of ISIS in the region and beyond.
We ask you to check if your Representative voted affirmatively for this resolution and if so, send them this letter, outlining the consequences of an abrupt withdrawal and encouraging them to adopt a more nuanced approach to the US involvement in the region. Check your Rep’s vote here, and find their contact information here.
Our letter also contains a request for a meeting with your Representative – if you are not comfortable requesting a meeting, please remove the last paragraph from the letter. Otherwise, we would support you in preparing for and attending such a meeting. You should see options to email them via contact form or request a meeting on their website.