[Spusa-announce] 3000th US Fatality in Iraq- Support our work to end the war and occupation

[natsec at sp-usa.org]

Friends,

According to the web site www.icasualties.org, the number of U.S.
fatalities in Iraq has reached 3,000 today.

In response to the 3,000 US service people who have died and the hundred
thousand plus Iraqis killed, Socialist Party members across the country
will joins vigils to demand an end to the war in Iraq and call for troops
home now! Vigils will begin tonight as part of New Years Eve “First
Nights”, more will happen over the week, including hundreds on Saturday
January 6th. A listing of vigils can be found at:
http://www.afsc.org/3000/ and info. on our anti-war work can be found at
our home page: www.sp-usa.org

The Socialist Party opposed the invasion of Iraq from the start, and we
continue to demand the immediate withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Iraq.
Our member and affiliates have played active roles in peace coalitions
across the US; our candidates in the 2006 election have spoken on bringing
the troops home, slashing the military budget and using those funds toward
healthcare, housing and education; and some of our members who are part of
the military have joined the thousand plus soldiers who have called for an
“Appeal for Redress” which will be delivered to congress this January,
opposing the war in Iraq and calling for the withdrawal of US troops.

One of these members, Marc Train of the Third Infantry Division of Ft.
Stewart, Georgia, was recently interviewed in The Nation magazine
(http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070108/cooper/4), as Marc stated "I think
it's all about oil. I want separation from the Army because I don't want
to be just a cog in the machine. I've registered as a member of the
Socialist Party USA."

Starting tomorrow, you will see our members at vigils and at public
forums. On January 11th, some of our affiliates have joined the call for
an International Day of Action to Shut Down Guantánamo and on January
27th, we will be in Washington DC to support the mass rally to end the
war.

As we reach the end of 2006 and see a new year, we understand the
challenges will still exist. We hope the Democrats will show some courage
and demand an end to this war, but we understand that’s not on their
agenda. It will take thousands of us on the streets, active in local and
national anti-war coalitions and involved in the anti-war movement to make
any changes in the US foreign policy, and we cannot rely on capitalist
political parties or politicians (no matter how “liberal”) to do our work
for us.

We hope you will support our work in 2007, get active in your local party
and help us build a movement for socialism. A listing of our locals can be
found at:
http://sp-usa.org/contacts.html If there isn’t a local in your areas,
contact the National Office (http://sp-usa.org/natl-office/index.html) and
we’ll help put you in touch with organizers in your area.

You can support our work by making a contribution on-line at:
http://sp-usa.org/contribute.html and you can renew your membership
on-line at: http://www.sp-usa.org/joinus/paydues.html. You can also get a
subscription to our magazine The Socialist for your family, friends or
library at: http://sp-usa.org/socialist/.

We rely on your contributions and renewals to keep us going.

You can also send your contribution or dues payment to the National Office
at SP USA 339 Lafayette St. #303 NY, NY 10012.

Socialist Party electoral work can be supported by making a contribution
to the Socialist National Committee via the Campaign Clearinghouse at
www.votesocialist.info/.

We appreciate your support during 2006 and look forward to working with
you in 2007.


In Unity,

Greg Pason
National Secretary
Socialist Party USA