Students for Victory in Iraq depends on you, our members, to actively participate in the ongoing campaign to prevent an unwarranted withdrawal and defeat in Iraq. Together, we collectively take action to achieve our three objectives.

I. Encourage Congress to support the mission in Iraq

II. Educate the public about the importance of victory

III. Support members of the military, their families, and those of our allies

Below you will find the latest action items for each of these three objectives.

On March 23, the US House passed HR 1591, The U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health, and Iraq Accountability Act, and the bill was subsequently passed by the US Senate on March 29. HR 1591 appropriates emergency funds for operations in Iraq, but ties this funding to a timetable for withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. According to the bill, all US forces must be out of the country by August 2008 at the latest. The President has promised to veto this bill when it comes to his desk. Congress is on spring break, and will not be able to vote on final passage of the conference report until they return on April 16, which is one day after the Pentagon says it will require funding in order to avoid cutbacks.

HR 1591 sets an arbitary timeline for withdrawal of American forces, and we encourage you to contact your Representative and Senators to ask them to vote to remove language calling for withdrawal from the HR 1591 conference report. You can find the contact information for your Representative here and the same information for your Senators here.

Update: The President and Congress agreed to a compromise version of the bill without an arbitrary timeline for withdrawal. Great job! The next hurdle will be the Department of Defense authorization, which is expected to be introduced after the 4th of July recess. Stay posted.

Inform Yourself and Others About Operation Phantom Thunder

On June 16th, the Multi-National Force-Iraq began Operation Phantom Thunder, which consists of a number of offensive operations against Al-Qaeda's remaining strongholds in the areas surrounding Baghdad. Operation Phantom Thunder is the largest Coalition military operation in Iraq since May 2003, but little has been reported on this massive operation by the television networks and mainstream media. According to embedded reporters Michael Yon and Bill Roggio, the operation has been a tremendous success so far, but the mainstream media is only reporting that there is an increase in American casualties (which is expected during such a large offensive) .

Print out the Institute for the Study of War's factsheet on Operation Phantom Thunder and give it to friends. Be sure to read the above reports directly from the field as they come in and learn about Phantom Thunder at Multi-National Force-Iraq's website and Wikipedia.

Operation AC

Now that it is officially summer, it is very important to remember that the 165,000 servicemen and women serving their country in Iraq will be fighting in heat upwards of 110 degrees for the next few months. Frankie Mayo over at Operation AC has worked very hard over the past year to provide air conditioners and other requested items to the troops in the field to give them some comfort through the hottest time of the year.

Each servicemember who registers at Operation AC can post a wish list of desired items, and you can register as a sponsor on the website to donate items. Sponsors can purchase items online which will be shipped to the servicemember directly. Please visit Operation AC and adopt a servicemember today!

More information is available at http://www.operationac.com.