[Peace-discuss] Iraq War resolution for U/C city councils

[C. G. Estabrook]

[This is a draft based on a number of resolutions passed by municipalities
across the country. --CGE]

	A RESOLUTION REGARDING THE WAR IN IRAQ

WHEREAS the government of the United States proposes vastly to expand its
war against Iraq, including a ground invasion by US military forces;

WHEREAS the United States is already conducting military action, including
aerial bombardment of Iraqi territory, without warrant in international
law or United Nations' resolutions;

WHEREAS serious observers throughout the world doubt that Iraq is a
military threat to its neighbors, much less to the United States;

WHEREAS former United Nations weapons inspectors, other experts and world
leaders have disputed the U.S. government's claim that Iraq has weapons of
mass destruction;

WHEREAS the government of Iraq has agreed to unconditional return of
international weapons inspectors to determine Iraq's compliance with the
United Nations Security Council resolutions concerning the development of
weapons of mass destruction by Iraq;

WHEREAS a war to remove Saddam Hussein would cause Iraq to use any weapons
of mass destruction that it might possess;

WHEREAS the United States should support rather than hinder United Nations
Security Council Resolution 687, which calls for disarming Iraq through
inspections, and its Article 14, which calls for moves towards disarmament
in the region;

WHEREAS the US government has been unable to establish any connection
between the government of Iraq and the terrorist attacks of September 11,
2001;

WHEREAS this war will encourage rather than deter terrorism against the
United States

WHEREAS it is widely believed that the United States government's
principal motive for this war is the desire to control the energy
resources of the Middle East;

WHEREAS the sanctions imposed on Iraq by the United Nations at the urging
of the United States government have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of
thousands of non-combatants;

WHEREAS there is a skepticism about this war that is growing rapidly
across the country, despite what seems to be a surprising lack of coverage
in the press of public demonstrations of opposition to our government's
policies.

WHEREAS the US government's obsessive concern with Iraq diverts attention
from severe economic problems and the truncation social services at home;

WHEREAS the billions of dollars to be spent on this war could much better
be spent on good schools, adequate nutrition, full health care, decent
housing and upgraded infrastructure (roads, sewer, water, transportation
systems) in this country

WHEREAS a war with Iraq will jeopardize the lives of American soldiers and
the lives of many innocent citizens of Iraq;

WHEREAS the Gulf War resulted in deleterious effects on the health of
American military personnel and their children;

WHEREAS depleted uranium, a hazard to the health of civilian and military
populations alike, has been used in recent military actions by the United
States;

WHEREAS citizens of our city, young and old, will by at risk in the
military forces of the United States;

WHEREAS the national security is achieved only by creating economic and
social justice at home and throughout the world, in order to eliminate the
conditions that breed war and terrorism;

WHEREAS the United States is obliged, legally and ethically, to solve
international problems in accordance with international law and the
Charter of the United Nations, and not by the untrammeled exercise of its
military preponderance; and

WHEREAS the citizens of our city and their elected representatives have
the constitutional right to petition the national government on this
matter of grave concern to our community,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THIS COUNCIL

[1] deplores the resort to armed force by the United States of America
against Iraq without the explicit authorization of the United Nations
Security Council;

[2] opposes a U.S. invasion of Iraq, but supports instead a genuinely
multilateral diplomatic approach to Iraq, sanctioned and directed by the
United Nations;

[3] calls upon the government of the United States to make every effort to
end the United Nations' sanctions against Iraq;

[4] urges the government of the United States to co-operate with the
United Nations to establish peace and security for all the peoples of the
Middle East; and

[5] directs the city clerk to communicate this resolution to the governor
of the state of Illinois, to our delegations to the General Assembly and
Congress, and to the President of the United States.

	--end--