1. Does the proposed resolution/legislation have the teeth to keep Oregon's National Guard from being deployed?

Yes. The essence of the legislation is found in the last three paragraphs, which would:
(a) limit the use of Oregon's National Guard to wars that are constitutionally authorized "pursuant to a congressional declaration of war or resolution";
(b) give Oregon's Attorney General the authority to defend decisions regarding federal deployment of the Guard;
and
(c) clarify the intent of this law is that Oregon's government, not the Oregon Guard members, will make this decision.

2. Why is this being done now?

As part of a call-up of 8000 Guard troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, 3500 Oregon National Guard troops are being sent to Iraq in the summer of 2009. Various other Guard members have been and are being sent to Afghanistan. Nearly all of Oregon's Blackhawk helicopters are slated to be shipped to Iraq in January, 2009. This will leave Oregon with limited ability to fight fires, conduct search and rescue, and be prepared for natural disasters.

Furthermore, the use of National Guard troops overseas is greatly limited by the U.S. and Oregon Constitutions, and the military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan have lasted over five and 7 years, respectively. Unless states begin to address the open-ended nature of the Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs), our Guard could be deployed indefinitely.

If nothing else, this campaign will act to educate the public and our elected officials about the United States making open-ended commitments in these conflicts.

3. What does signing the petition do?

We are planning to share the petitions with all the members of the Oregon Legislature, the Governor, and Oregon's delegation to Congress. They are not legally binding petitions (such as for a ballot measure) and being registered to vote is not required. However, to show each legislator how many people from his/her district support keeping the Guard home, we are limiting signatures to Oregonians.

4. What does it mean to be a supporting organization?

It means at least lending your group's name to the effort, and may also include one or more of the following:
* Circulating information to your group's members and supporters;
* Gathering signatures on the petition about the campaign;
* Helping recruit other organizational and/or individual supporters for the campaign; and/or
* Meeting with your elected representatives about the campaign alone or as part of a delegation

5. Is there a deadline for the petitions?

Ideally, we'd like to have all petitions back by December 15, 2008* ahead of the 2009 Legislative Session. We encourage you to send in the petitions as you get them finished and we may make presentations occasionally updating legislators, the press and the public.

6. Is this part of a national effort?

Yes. A national effort is being coordinated by the Liberty Tree in Wisconsin: "Bring the Guard Home! (it's the law)" (www.bringtheguardhome.org) which focuses on the 2002 AUMF for Iraq and that its terms have expired (no weapons of mass destruction, no UN Security Council resolutions to enforce against Saddam Hussein). We are working in conjunction with them and have adopted the language they put forward as templates for legislation and resolutions. Bills have been introduced in the legislatures of Vermont, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island (as of June, 2008). Because our efforts also include the 2001 AUMF and the troops in Afghanistan, we have adopted different language in our proposed resolution/legislation and for the overall Oregon campaign.
More information, including a more detailed FAQ, can be found on the Cities for Progress website at
http://citiesforprogress.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=684&Itemid=1 .

*-Note--the deadline has been moved back to an earlier date than previously announced!