Today is my birthday. I'm 52.

Here's what I want for my birthday: I want all my friends to make it a priority to end U.S. participation in the Saudi war and blockade in Yemen, which is pushing Yemen into famine and has ignited the worst cholera outbreak on record, with a million malnourished Yemeni children at heightened risk of dying from preventable cholera. [1]

I believe that we can do this. I believe that when U.S. participation ends, the war and blockade ends. I believe that U.S. participation in the war is politically vulnerable, and that with a little more help from our friends, we can end U.S. participation in the war.

The last time the Senate was allowed to vote, we lost 47-53, with five Senate Democrats voting against us. If we can put sufficient pressure four of those five Senate Democrats - Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Mark Warner of Virginia, Bill Nelson of Florida, and Joe Manchin of West Virginia - to vote like the Senate Democratic leadership and the majority of Senate Democrats - like they voted on Trumpcare - we can win a vote in the Senate on the Young amendment, which would cut off U.S. weapons to Saudi Arabia until it lifts its famine-inducing blockade on Yemen. I believe that Senate passage of the Young amendment would force the Trump Administration to back off its blank check for Saudi Arabia's war and blockade on Yemen.

The last time the House was allowed to vote by roll call - in June 2016 - we lost 204-216, with 16 Democrats voting against us. [2] If we can force a roll call vote in the House, I believe that we can win in the House. I believe that if we win a floor vote in the House, it would force the Trump Administration to back off its blank check for Saudi Arabia's war and blockade on Yemen.

Here's how I want you to help me on my birthday today:

If you live in Missouri, Indiana, Virginia, Florida, or West Virginia, sign and share our petition to the Senate on the Young and Merkley amendments. When you sign our petition, it will be automatically delivered to your Senators.

If you live anywhere else, sign and share our petition to the House demanding that they use their war powers to force a floor vote. When you sign our petition, it will be automatically delivered to your Representative in the House.

Thanks for all you do to help make U.S. foreign policy more just,

Robert Naiman

Just Foreign Policy

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References:

1. http://www.npr.org/2017/08/02/541181026/one-million-malnourished-children-at-risk-of-cholera-in-yemen

2. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/obama-heeding-close-house_b_10516480.html