Sherry Darling
New Yorker
Hello fellow Virginia types! I need your help convincing Sen. Allen that he wants to support the Iraq Freedom from Debt Bill. PLEASE cut, paste and mail or fax to Sen Allen the following letter, or give him a call. The more of a bug we can put in his ear, the better. He's on an important committee, so we really need him on board. Please take a minute to write him.
His # is (202) 224-4024 if you prefer to call.
Sample letter:
Senator George Allen
204 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
Let us help Iraq and strengthen an historic precedent of canceling
Odious Debt by supporting HR 2482. This bill calls for the
cancellation of loans made to Iraq by multilateral financial
institutions.
According to international precedent, debts incurred by
dictatorships for the purposes of oppressing their people or for
personal purpose may be considered `odious'. In cases where borrowed
money is used in ways contrary to the people's interest, with the
knowledge of the creditors, the creditors may be said to have
committed a hostile act against the people. Under such reasoning,
such debts may be questioned.
A significant amount of Iraq's outstanding loans were taken out at
the behest of Baath Party leadership and rather than being used for
the benefit or the well-being of the Iraqi people were used for
building lavish palaces, secret police, prisons, and illegal weapons
programs.
Debt cancellation can be an essential tool in rebuilding a nation
destroyed by war and humiliated by its leadership. It is an
effective development tool that releases funds within a nation that
can be used to address poverty and meet essential human needs.
Iraq's obligations to the World Bank total $82,000,000.
His # is (202) 224-4024 if you prefer to call.
Sample letter:
Senator George Allen
204 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
Let us help Iraq and strengthen an historic precedent of canceling
Odious Debt by supporting HR 2482. This bill calls for the
cancellation of loans made to Iraq by multilateral financial
institutions.
According to international precedent, debts incurred by
dictatorships for the purposes of oppressing their people or for
personal purpose may be considered `odious'. In cases where borrowed
money is used in ways contrary to the people's interest, with the
knowledge of the creditors, the creditors may be said to have
committed a hostile act against the people. Under such reasoning,
such debts may be questioned.
A significant amount of Iraq's outstanding loans were taken out at
the behest of Baath Party leadership and rather than being used for
the benefit or the well-being of the Iraqi people were used for
building lavish palaces, secret police, prisons, and illegal weapons
programs.
Debt cancellation can be an essential tool in rebuilding a nation
destroyed by war and humiliated by its leadership. It is an
effective development tool that releases funds within a nation that
can be used to address poverty and meet essential human needs.
Iraq's obligations to the World Bank total $82,000,000.
! Thanks so much. And hey, if we ever do get a Virginia gathering together, you should come. 
I'd love to meet up with ya'll for some coffee or a few drinks or something!
