The evidence is clear: the United States is winning in Iraq. Despite the willingness of the mainstream media to ignore democratic progress in Iraq, General Petraeus’ counterinsurgency plan has borne fruit and the democratically-elected Iraqi government is working to bring reconciliation to the people of Iraq. Now, as pro-victory citizens, it is our task to help bring about political progress in Washington for the military progress our troops have secured abroad.

This spring, Students for Victory is running ‘Eight Weeks to Assessment’, our campaign as part of the overall pro-victory coalition’s efforts to prepare for General Petraeus’ testimony before Congress in mid-April. Defeatist members of Congress and their leftist allies used the Gen. Petraeus’ last assessment in September as a launching pad for attacks on our mission there, our soldiers, and even the General himself, and we expect the same to occur in April.

To prepare for the upcoming struggle, we will be rapidly assembling a 'ground game' in multiple steps. Until General Petraeus testifies, we will send you an action item every week. Individually each item is fairly simple, but as a whole, your efforts will help Students for Victory make a difference in the struggle for Iraq and help defeat the defeatists.

Week 1: Invite Five Friends

Week 2: Nominate State Coordinator

Week 3: Join Our Mailing List

Week 4: Call Jack Murtha

Week 5: Support Alternative Media

Week 6: Help Veterans Speak Out

Week 7: Join Your State's Students for Victory Facebook Group

Next week, General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker will report to Congress about the status of military and diplomatic operations in Iraq. Thus, this week marks the end of our Eight Weeks to Assessment campaign, and the beginning of a new phase of the effort to achieve victory overseas. Over the course of this campaign your efforts have achieved great successes and we are prepared to build on these successes in the months to come.

General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker are expected to focus on the decline in violence witnessed over the last six months as well as recent political progress in Iraq, while suggesting that troop levels remain unchanged for the remainder of the year. However, according to recent reports, anti-mission members of Congress plan to reintroduce legislation to cut off funding of the war and/or introduce an arbitrary timeline for withdrawal in the weeks following General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker’s testimony. We cannot allow this legislation to pass.

This week, we are asking you to call your US Representative and Senators and ask that they act on the recommendations of General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker. Tell them that:

• -The counterinsurgency strategy implemented last year has reduced violence dramatically
• -The government of Iraq has passed several key pieces of legislation, most recently a law establishing local elections for this October
• -The Iraqi people are standing up for their own security through the Concerned Local Citizens and the growing capacity of the Iraqi Army
• -An early withdrawal from Iraq would put these achievements in jeopardy and dishonor the sacrifices made by the servicemen and women who made those successes possible

Please call the Capitol switchboard at (202)224-3121 and ask to be connected to your Senators’ or Representative’s office. By working together, we can all have our voices heard and make an impact in the struggle that is to come.