Congratulations to all of us!

Today is a good day for those of us who care about genuine security. Who believe that we can find a better way to conduct ourselves in the world: with integrity, with respect for other people, with intelligence about what will really make us more secure.

And it's a good day for those of us who believe that women can lead the way into a safer, more prosperous, more vital future. We send our brightest congratulations to all our friends who had the courage to run, and to those who had the good fortune of winning.

In particular, of course, we welcome our new Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi! The FIRST woman Speaker. The third in line for the Presidency!

At this moment, the Democrats have a majority in the House; and may still have one in the Senate as well. It was a long time coming, but it's that much sweeter.

So we offer our thanks to all of you. You, the voters, made this happen. You worked hard. You registered voters, called, got out the vote and donated money.

Many believe that the war in Iraq was the issue that carried the day. Voters rejected the policy of stay the course, and opted for a change in direction.

Already, we're seeing a slight shift in that direction. Donald Rumsfeld has resigned, and the president is acknowledging that change is brewing. By the end of the year, new policy recommendations on Iraq will be offered by a bipartisan commission authorized by Congress and headed by former Secretary of State James Baker and former Representative Lee Hamilton. The pressures for an exit strategy, hearings, and intense scrutiny are enormous.

We can now stand up in the international community and proudly assert that we reject the policies of George W Bush. We elected leaders who want to work for a world free of weapons of mass destruction and an end to misguided war policies.

We at WAND have believed since the beginning that this war was the wrong war, for the wrong reason, at the wrong time. We hate to be right when so much has been lost. So many lives, so much money. But now we have a chance to change the course of history.

Get ready, you will be needed for the next steps as well! Congress cannot do this alone. All voters who felt the need to get out of Iraq must be vigilant and supportive for Congress to make headway. Some pundits are saying that Congress can’t do anything, really. Our foreign policy in Iraq is really in the presidential domain. We disagree. There are many actions Congress can take, and we will be there to support them.

Again, thanks for all you do every day! We look forward to the months and years ahead, on the long road to Women. Power. Peace.