Genocide Relief

What can we do to support Syrian refugees—in addition to direct financial aid and heartfelt welcome messages?

 

We can give diplomacy a boost by supporting a congressional sign-on letter directed to President Obama that is being circulated by Representative Jim Himes (D-CT)

 

Rep. Himes' letter calls for President Obama to use his authority to hasten international diplomatic negotiations to bring an end to the ongoing and brutal Syrian civil war so that refugees can return home. Can you pick up the phone right now and ask Rep. Doyle to sign on to the letter, calling for international negotiations to stabilize Syria?

 

Here's where to call: 
Representative Mike Doyle 
Phone: (202) 225-2135
You can say: "Please sign on to Rep. Himes' letter to President Obama calling for international diplomatic negotiations to stabilize Syria." 

 

Rep. Himes' letter allows us —once again—demonstrate their staunch support for diplomacy as a mechanism for solving entrenched conflicts. 

In a letter to his House colleagues encouraging their support of this sign-on letter, Rep. Himes writes that an "international agreement won't come easily, but it is in our best security and moral interests to lead the way."

This is a moment to build on the historic Iran diplomacy breakthrough—which also didn't come easily.

 

Many in Congress predicted diplomacy with Iran would fail, claiming that an all-out war was the only way to achieve our objectives. Against all odds, MoveOn members worked for diplomacy and peace with Iran. We helped hard-nosed and tough negotiations prevail, yielding a solid deal that will prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Now, with millions of Syrian lives at stake, it's time we step up again and join the outcry for international diplomacy to address the crisis in Syria. 

 

P.S. Here's the full text of Rep. Himes' letter:

Dear Mr. President,

We write with urgency to request that you use the full authority of your office to convene international negotiations designed to stop the civil war in Syria, stabilize the country, effect the return to Syria of all refugees, provide for political change towards a popularly supported, accountable Syrian leadership, and develop a cohesive, international strategy for the defeat of ISIL.

The Syrian civil war has now dragged on for four long and bloody years, resulting in the deaths of more than 300,000 people, creating more than 4 million refugees, and displacing more than 6.5 million people within the country. The refugee crisis has been an immense and potentially destabilizing challenge to fragile regimes in the Middle East and is now affecting Europe and the United States.

Sadly, it appears that none of the efforts the U.S. and Europe have made so far in Syria have produced the desired results: a transition away from the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, and the return of peace and stability. In fact, with the introduction of Russian military equipment and personnel, and with increasing Western military efforts directed at both ISIL and Assad-regime forces, there is every possibility that violence will escalate. This would continue the devastation of the Syrian populace, worsen the refugee crisis, and risk an increasing probability of expanded military conflict in the region. For these reasons, it is time to devote ourselves to a negotiated peace, and work with allies, including surrounding Arab states that have a vested interest in the security and stability of the region, moving forward with both a peace plan and a coordinated assault against ISIL.

There is no guarantee that such negotiations would succeed; Russia and Iran, necessary parties to the process, are devoting substantial resources to preserving the murderous regime of Bashar al-Assad. Furthermore, at any given time there will be lengthy debate by who is favored by current "facts on the ground." But, all parties to our proposed negotiations have certain long-term, common interests in the neutralization of ISIL and other violent extremists in the region, and in stopping the carnage and increasingly unmanageable refugee crisis.

We urge you to take quick action on this matter. The situation worsens day to day and shows no sign of improving. Convening international negotiations to end the Syria conflict would be in the best interests of US and global security, and is also, more importantly, a moral imperative