Political Advocacy Groups

"The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic, mutual-help, war-time veterans organization. A community-service organization which now numbers nearly 3 million members -- men and women -- in nearly 15,000 American Legion Posts worldwide." (http://www.legion.org)

"The Arms Control Association (ACA), founded in 1971, is a national nonpartisan membership organization dedicated to promoting public understanding of and support for effective arms control policies." (http://www.armscontrol.org/about.asp)

"Since its founding in 1961-1962, the Council has been a preeminent, non partisan institution devoted to promoting transatlantic cooperation and international security." (http://www.acus.org/about)

"Business Executives for National Security is a nation-wide, non-partisan, member-driven organization working to help make America safe and secure. BENS members are senior executives who: apply the lessons of successful business practices to help reshape and rebuild Americas military for the 21st Century; bridge the gap between business and government in addressing new threats like suitcase bombs, cyberwar, and bioterrorists; help the Pentagon, Congress and the White House develop new solutions to our national security challenges." (http://www.bens.org/who.html)

"The Center for Defense Information is dedicated to strengthening security through: international cooperation; reduced reliance on unilateral military power to resolve conflict; reduced reliance on nuclear weapons; a transformed and reformed military establishment; and, prudent oversight of, and spending on, defense programs." [THINK TANK] (http://www.cdi.org/about/index.cfm)

"The Center for Democracy and Technology works to promote democratic values and constitutional liberties in the digital age. With expertise in law, technology, and policy, CDT seeks practical solutions to enhance free expression and privacy in global communications technologies. CDT is dedicated to building consensus among all parties interested in the future of the Internet and other new communications media." (http://www.cdt.org)

"Since 1962, CSIS has been dedicated to finding ways to sustain American prominence and prosperity as a force for good in the world. " (http://csis.org/about-us)

"The Council for a Livable World is among the nation's preeminent arms control organizations and focuses on halting the spread of weapons of mass destruction, opposing a national missile defense system, cutting Pentagon waste and reducing excessive arms exports. The Council is also a political lobby which endorses political candidates." (http://www.clw.org)

"Our vision is of "a world in which instruments of security cooperation and peace overtake historic tendencies toward conflict and war." We pursue this vision through work that is intensely practical, nonpartisan, and oriented toward real-world policy makers." (http://www.stimson.org/about/?sn=AB2001110512)

"JINSA has a two-fold mandate: to educate the American public about the importance of an effective U.S. defense capability so that our vital interests as Americans can be safeguarded; and to inform the American defense and foreign affairs community about the important role Israel can and does play in bolstering democratic interests in the Mediterranean and the Middle East." (http://www.jinsa.org/about/about.html)

"...We monitor nuclear activities worldwide and pursue strategies to halt the spread and reverse the growth of nuclear arms. In particular, we focus on the urgency of eliminating atom-bomb materials (plutonium and highly enriched uranium) from civilian nuclear power and research programs."
(http://www.nci.org --> About Us)

"Pax Christi USA strives to create a world that reflects the Peace of Christ by exploring, articulating, and witnessing to the call of Christian nonviolence. This work begins in personal life and extends to communities of reflection and action to transform structures of society. Pax Christi USA rejects war, preparations for war, and every form of violence and domination. It advocates primacy of conscience, economic and social justice, and respect for creation." (http://www.paxchristiusa.org//about_us.asp)

"Peace Action has worked for an environment where all are free from violence and war. We understand that long-standing global conflicts require long-term solutions and that US foreign policy has a lasting effect on the world. We are working to promote a new U.S. foreign policy that is based on peaceful support for human rights and democracy, eliminating the threat of weapons of mass destruction, and cooperation with the world community. We organize against pre-emptive war and call for a full withdrawal of American troops, bases and contractors from Iraq and Afghanistan." (http://www.peace-action.org/our-mission)

"Physicians for Social Responsibility is the largest physician-led organization in the U.S. working to prevent nuclear war and proliferation and to slow, stop and reverse global warming and toxic degradation of the environment." (http://www.psr.org/about/)

"The Center for Security Policy has, since its founding in 1988, operated as a non-profit, non-partisan organization committed to the time-tested philosophy of promoting international peace through American strength." (http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org --> About Us)

"WAND was founded in 1982 as Women's Action for Nuclear Disarmament. With the end of the cold war, we became Women's Action for New Directions, and have been dedicating our energies to redirect federal budget priorities away from the military and toward human needs." (http://www.wand.org/wand_who_we_are.htm)