| Dear John,
For more than two decades, the U.S. has maintained a complex military presence in Iraq, including sprawling airbases like Baghdad International Airport and Al Asad. Originally established as strategic footholds in the War on Terror, these bases have evolved into symbols of America’s endless entanglements in a region bristling with danger.
As a combat veteran who served there, I understand the weight of the Iraq War that my veteran brothers and sisters carry every day. Many of us gladly served only to find ourselves asking hard questions as the war droned on and its original purpose collapsed under the weight of facts coming to light. This war, launched on false premises , has cost nearly 4,500 American lives, left over 30,000 wounded, and claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis. Beyond the human toll, this conflict has destabilized the region, giving rise to extremist groups like ISIS, and drained over $2 trillion from our economy that could have stayed in taxpayers' pockets or been used to support our own communities.
It’s time to end our involvement in this war once and for all. News of recent negotiations with the Iraqi government offer a chance for us to finally close this chapter of our nation’s endless wars. The ongoing presence in Iraq not only perpetuates our nation’s immense costs, but it keeps our leaders from making real choices about where to prioritize our limited resources. Those leaders must learn to shift from reactive deployments to genuine strategic recalibrations. I’m asking you to stand with me in demanding Congress and the president take immediate action to bring our troops home and officially end the Iraq War. Our nation, and those who have served it, deserve closure and accountability.
Please CLICK HERE to contact your lawmakers and make it clear the time for endless war is over. We need your voice in this fight to ensure no more lives are lost in a conflict that should have ended years ago.
With deep respect,
Jason Beardsley
Senior Advisor, Concerned Veterans for America
P.S. The effects of the Iraq War and Global War on Terror have been catastrophic and will be felt for decades. But it's not too late to protect the next generations of Americans and our warfighters from unnecessary conflict. As an Iraq veteran myself, I hope to see Congress honor those of us who served by upholding its constitutional responsibilities with more prudent foreign policy decisions in the future. | 
