Veterans and local members of the grassroots organization, MoveOn.org Political Action, gathered in December Rep. Joel Hefley and other Republicans in Congress to support an Iraq exit strategy with a timeline to bring troops home by the end of 2006.Constituents gathered at Rep. Hefley’s office with an “Out in ’06” petition, while MoveOn members did the same in front of congressional offices across the country.Democratic Congressman John Murtha, a decorated Vietnam War veteran and long time supporter of the war, and Republican Rep. Walter Jones of North Carolina, whose district includes Camp Lejeune, a major marine base, have both introduced proposals for an exit from Iraq.”Rep. Hefley says that he supports our troops. So why are we sending billions of dollars over to Iraq while our soldiers are digging in dumps for armor; and their wives are forced to collect food stamps?” asked Calhan resident Elizabeth West, grandmother of Army Sgt. James G. West, who was killed in Al Hillah, Iraq in July 2004.More than 1,000 of Hefley’s constituents signed the petition, which included more than 11,000 Colorado residents total.
