We are all impacted by Middle East War. Obama's negotiated approach is the only answer.

Because House Republicans want to torpedo President Obama's Iran agreement with a hawkish move by Eric Cantor. I do not want to see us drawn into war by resentment within the ranks to make Obama look bad. The collateral damage is our democracy.

House majority leader Eric Cantor is working on a hawkish bill that would torpedo President Obama's interim agreement with Iran by setting unrealistic goals for the final deal. If he succeeds he’ll tie President Obama’s hands, destroy negotiations and edge us closer to another senseless conflict in the Middle East. We know diplomacy works - we've seen it in action over the last few weeks. The good news is we can squelch Eric Cantor’s plans by helping make sure our representatives do the right thing and support the President’s diplomatic efforts with Iran. We know that public pressure when it comes to foreign policy works - after all it was everyday people like you and me taking action that helped ensure that military action wasn’t on the table with Syria. Now we have a chance to not just fight back against a potential conflict - but to proactively build peace and diplomacy. This bill could hit the house floor as soon as next week. If we don't act now Congress could shatter the deal with Iran now and we would lose this once in a generation opportunity. The interim deal with Iran is a win for everyone - Iran has agreed to opening itself up to the potential of daily inspections and in turn the US has offered some relief from sanctions**. That’s why 64% of the American public, 100 rabbis and leading military and national security experts support the President’s diplomatic path with Iran***. By publicly pushing our representatives to do the right thing and support the President’s diplomatic path with Iran we show solidarity with everyday Iranians. A new poll released today showed that for many Iranians building democracy is their highest priority*. Notable activists have repeatedly said that the best way to support their work is by working towards diplomacy and the reduction of sanctions**. Diplomacy with Iran - is the best way for us to support change makers in Iran and in our national interest. Please sign this petition urging your representatives to back President Obama when it comes to Iran. *Fears mount that Dems will undermine White House on Iran. December 6, Washington Post blogs. *Cantor pushing for bill to define Iran deal, National Journal, December 3. **We have a deal with Iran, a good one. Slate. November 24. ***Americans support an Iran deal 2:1, Washington Post, November 20; 100-plus sign Rabbini call: “step by step towards shalom with Iran”, The Shalom center, November 24; Military and National Security Leaders Agree, American Security Project, November 26. *Iranians lukewarm on Rouhani, oppose Syria intervention, Logelog, December 6. **An Open Letter to President Hollande on the Geneva Talks, Iran Wire, November 20; Iranian

Because I can make a difference. PEOPLE! WE Truly hold the power and it's high time WE started exercising it to DEMAND an END to this MADNESS!!!

Dear New Mexicans interested in Peace House majority leader Eric Cantor is working on a hawkish bill that would torpedo President Obama's interim agreement with Iran by setting unrealistic goals for the final deal. If he succeeds he’ll tie President Obama’s hands, destroy negotiations and edge us closer to another senseless conflict in the Middle East. This isn't a fringe bill - it's one that is gaining ground amongst Democratic members of the House and if we do nothing will become bipartisan. Urge New Mexico's representatives to back President Obama!! (MoveOn's petition format doesn't allow Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (NM-3) and Rep. Steve Pearce (NM-2) to be included, but hopefully they will get the message too!)

Neither American nor the Iranian people want nor benefit from another conflict in the Middle East.

The interim deal with Iran is a win for everyone - Iran has agreed to opening itself up to the potential of daily inspections and in turn the US has offered some relief from sanctions**. That’s why 64% of the American public, 100 rabbis and leading military and national security experts support the President’s diplomatic path with Iran***. By publicly pushing our representatives to do the right thing and support the President’s diplomatic path with Iran we show solidarity with everyday Iranians. A new poll released today showed that for many Iranians building democracy is their highest priority*. Notable activists have repeatedly said that the best way to support their work is by working towards diplomacy and the reduction of sanctions**. Diplomacy with Iran - is the best way for us to support change makers in Iran and in our national interest. Please sign this petition urging your representatives to back President Obama when it comes to Iran. *Fears mount that Dems will undermine White House on Iran. December 6, Washington Post blogs. *Cantor pushing for bill to define Iran deal, National Journal, December 3. **We have a deal with Iran, a good one. Slate. November 24. ***Americans support an Iran deal 2:1, Washington Post, November 20; 100-plus sign Rabbini call: “step by step towards shalom with Iran”, The Shalom center, November 24; Military and National Security Leaders Agree, American Security Project, November 26. *Iranians lukewarm on Rouhani, oppose Syria intervention, Logelog, December 6. **An Open Letter to President Hollande on the Geneva Talks, Iran Wire, November 20; Iranian

I am writing because I feel our country has been held hostage for too long by the military-industrial complex and groups who want constant military escalation with other countries, to the detriment of our life and limb, economy and image. We need to project a softer and more cost-effective image of US power abroad.

Another war would be very hard on our country. If talks would work it would raise our standing in the world as a country not always using bombs to get our way. Watching Iran carefully for 6 months while we work toward a settlement is not too much to ask.

The challenges posed by these negotiations are great enough without burdening them with further, probably deal-breaking, conditions. The point is to avoid war AND keep Iran from having nuclear weapons, not to make a war more likely - which is what Cantor's resolution is likely to do.

There has never been a better opportunity to free Alan Gross from imprisonment in Havana. When laws and goals of two nations conflict, negotiation is the only realistic path, as undertaken regularly by the US, Israel and other countries that seek return of detained agents. Alan, Judy and two-thirds of the Senate have asked his employer, the Obama Administration, to take action on Alan's behalf. ****************** From an article in Florida's Sun Sentinel: Judy Gross is frustrated with the lack of help she feels she has not gotten from Washington. Gross said in a statement: "I am angry at the U.S. Government for its lack of response in working toward bringing Alan home. For four years, we have had meeting after meeting with the State Department, and the National Security Council. Each meeting ultimately ended the same way — with patronizing comments, with empty promises and ultimately with no action … The White House has refused to speak to me or Alan's legal team for four years. I didn't even qualify for a form letter one usually gets after writing to the President. "I do know that there are those in Congress with hatred so strong toward Cuba that they are willing to let Alan rot in prison. This way of thinking has failed to bring Alan home for four years and is a death sentence for Alan. … I urge all South Florida residents to send messages and meet with Senator Mark Rubio, CongresswomanDebbie Wasserman Schultz, Congresswoman Ilena Ros-Lethinen and Congressman Mario Dias-Balart. … We need to try something different or Alan will die in prison." ****************** From a letter to the President by sixty-six members of the US Senate: "We urge you to act expeditiously to take whatever steps are in the national interest to obtain his release, and we stand ready to support your Administration in pursuit of this worthy goal." ****************** The President needs broad support to overcome special interests that prefer Alan remain a symbol, separated from his family, if the means of his release does not accommodate hostility to their country of origin. For additional background, visit http://thehavananote.com/2013/12 /could_alan_gross_be_home_holidays and http://thehavananote.com/2013/12/do_it_mr_president_do_it

President Obama's administration has reached an interim nuclear deal with Iran which will prevent war and relieve any fears that Iran might build a nuclear weapon. The people of Massachusetts don't want more sanctions or war, they want diplomacy to succeed. We need Senators Markey and Warren to speak out in favor of diplomacy and against more sanctions.