My favorite photo of the DC rally

This is my favorite of all the photos taken by Emily M. during last Saturday's march and rally in DC. It is actually a cropping of the photo. I just love this picture of a little girl eating a hot dog with PEACE on her back.

Because she is the reason we need peace in this world. The children are the ones who need, and deserve, to grow up in peace.

I signed up yesterday for Move On's virtual march on Washington. I thought the march was for today - February 1, 2007 - but I have now heard that it is for March 1, 2007. Well, no matter. I called today, I will call on March 1, and I will call a half dozen times in between. At one point, I called every day - I called my representative, my Senators, and the White House. But I don't call every day at this point.

I visited the office of my new Democratic Representative this past Monday, here in my town of Asheville. There were people lobbying him up in DC also. Here's an action for my readers:

SET A DEADLINE TO GET OUT

And I wanted to share a letter with you. Senator Webb asked Rice about the bush administration's taking action against Iran without congressional approval during a congressional hearing. She said she would get back to him - but so far, she has not. So he wrote the letter below. By the way, if you are ever in DC, go and sit in on a congressional hearing. It is, in my opinion, generally a dog and pony show. But boy, those senators were really giving them some grief lately. They seem to be finding their "backbone" lately.

January 29, 2007

The Honorable Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of State
Department of State
2201 C Street, NW Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary Rice:

During your appearance before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on January 11, 2007, I asked you a question pertaining to the administration's policy regarding possible military action against Iran. I asked, "Is it the position of this administration that it possesses the authority to take unilateral action against Iran, in the absence of a direct threat, without congressional approval?"

At that time you were loath to discuss questions of presidential authority, but you committed to provide a written answer. Since I have not yet received a reply, the purpose of this letter is to reiterate my interest in your response.

This is, basically, a "yes" or "no" question regarding an urgent matter affecting our nation's foreign policy. Remarks made by members of this administration strongly suggest that the administration wrongly believes that the 2002 joint resolution authorizing use of force in Iraq can be applied in other instances, such as in the case of Iran. I, as well as the American people, would benefit by fully understanding the administration's unequivocal response.

I would appreciate your expeditious reply and look forward to discussing this issue with you in the near future.

Sincerely,

James Webb
United States Senator