Happening tomorrow: Obama's announcement

Did you hear the news? We just heard that President Obama will announce his July withdrawal plan tomorrow. I want to thank you for all you have done to help us influence his decision.

I also want to give you a heads up to watch for my email and blog post on Thursday with our plan to respond to the president’s announcement.

But first, I want to take a moment and recognize all we’ve already accomplished. Thanks to your efforts, we have sent more than 8,000 of your personal messages to Congress, each tied to a toy soldier to remind them of the human cost of war. Click here to watch a slideshow of some of the most powerful messages we collected.

Over the past few months, we have asked you to step up and urge Congress to pressure the administration to end the war, and it’s working.  Because of your efforts, Congress is speaking out and the president is taking notice.

At the end of May, more than two hundred representatives voted to end the war in Afghanistan, a new record. That vote brought us within a razor thin margin of requiring a plan for an accelerated timeline to end the war, and sent an undeniable message to the White House. The Senate followed suit, with 27 senators across the political spectrum writing to Obama urging him to end the war, starting with a sizable withdrawal in July. [1]

This wouldn’t have happened without people like you who, behind the scenes, were writing and calling their representatives, and making the voice for peace impossible to ignore. Media outlets across the country are churning out stories about growing congressional pressure on Obama and how that will affect his withdrawal decision. [2]

Click here to watch a slideshow documenting the critical role you’ve played in this progress. Then, watch your inbox or the blog on Thursday morning for our analysis of President Obama’s plan and a call to action so he knows we are watching.

Whatever happens tomorrow, I am truly inspired and energized by the progress you have helped us make.

Thank you for your commitment to ending the war.