[Peace] ISG resolution

[Matt Reichel]

	Today I prsented the following resolution to ISG with Sara Bokhari
pushing it as the main sponsor.






	Resolution to Condemn the Use of Force
			On Iraq


Whereas: The use of force in pre-emptive fashion against Iraq would
violate articles 4 and 33 of the United Nations Charter, which prohibits
use of force by member states as a principle, and obligates member states
to seek peaceful resolution to conflicts, respectively.

Whereas: The use of force in pre-emptive fashion against Iraq would
violate the spirit of article 51 of the UN charter which permits the use
of force only in cases of self-defense. It goes without saying that a
pre-emptive attack does not constitute the right to self defense.

Whereas: The use of force in pre-emptive fashion against Iraq would
violate Article VI of the U.S. Constitution, which binds lawmakers to
adhere to U.S. treaties and charters.

Whereas: The use of force without international consensus on Iraq will
hinder future efforts by the United States to build coalitions for
peacekeeping efforts.

Whereas: Saudi Arabian foreign minister Saud al-Faisal has announced that
Saudi bases will not be open to the U.S. use for an attack on Iraq as they
were in the first Gulf War.

Whereas: France, Russia, and China, three of the five permanent members of
the UN, have not demonstrated enthusiastic support for U.S. military
action in Iraq.

Whereas: The United Kingdom has been the sole country offering unwavering
support for U.S. plans to use pre-emptive force on Iraq.

Whereas: Polls have shown upwards of 80% of the British public opposed to
their government's support of U.S. pre-emptive force on Iraq.

Whereas: The U.S. and the UN have enforced the most rigid and longest
lasting sanctions in history on the nation of Iraq for the last 12 years.

Whereas: These sanctions have had the effect of devastating Iraqi
infrastructure in the same way as military warfare, such that they have
been unable to rebuild after repeated bombings in the no-fly zone.

Whereas: According to former UN weapons inspector Raymond Zalinskas, the
work of eliminating Iraqi weapons of mass destruction was "95%
unhindered." (NPR 2/13/98)

Whereas: According to former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter, The U.S.
has perverted the UN weapons process by using it as a tool to justify
military actions.S (NBC Today Show 12/17/98)

Whereas: CIA director George Tenet has reported that an attack on Iraq
will only increase the likelihood that Saddam Hussein will use weapons of
mass destruction.

Whereas: Hussein has agreed to comply with UN demands to allow weapons
inspectors to return after a four year hiatus.

Whereas: Saddam Hussein is a secular dictator with no connections to the
Islamic extremist groups that have been accused of being responsible for
the terror attacks of 9/11/01.

Whereas: The people of Iraq live under a dictatorial government in which
they have no influence whatsoever on foreign or domestic policy.

Whereas: The use of force against Iraq would strengthen the dictatorial
government by playing into its anti-American propaganda.

Whereas: American citizens, when they choose to do so, can have a
tremendous influence on the foreign policy of its government.

Whereas: Most American military servicemen will be 18-24 year-olds, a
comparable age to most college students.

Whereas:  ROTC and U.S. Armed Forces heavily recruit on the University of
Illinois campus.



Therefore be it resolved, the Illinois Student Government:

1. Calls on the U.S. government to withdraw its threats of pre-emptive and
unilateral action on Iraq.

2. Calls on the Student Body to inform itself as to the present conditions
in Iraq and to make their opinions known to their duly elected
representatives in Washington.

3. Calls on Assembly members to work with student groups to condone
diplomatic and non-violent means of resolving IraqUs current UN
violations.

4. Will publicize its stance on this matter as appropriate.