Over 1,500 Maryland National Guard personnel were deployed to Iraq in 2007, and almost 6,000 Maryland Guard members have been called up since September 11, 2001. Their deployment caused financial harm and emotional suffering to their families and impaired our stateвs ability to respond to emergencies.

The Congressional 2002 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) was the basis for sending the National Guard to Iraq. However, the 2002 AUMF's justification for the occupation is no longer relevant, and thus the Guard's deployment to Iraq is illegal.

We call on Maryland Senators and Delegates to pass legislation requiring Governor O'Malley to refuse deployment of the Maryland National Guard to Iraq under the 2002 AUMF.