(NewtonLiberalmania: Newton, Mass) The Newton Board of Aldermen passed a resolution ordering President Bush to immediately withdraw all U.S. military personnel from Iraq.
The February 4th resolution suggests that the US military is the cause of “sectarian” violence and wants to start a war with “neighboring countries” such as Iran.
The resolution blames Newton’s current fiscal crisis on the Iraq war. It says the money funding the war could be better spent by the Aldermen on items such as “health care,”"education” and dealing with local “political threats” in the Newton community.
In the coming weeks NewtonLiberalmania will examine this action more carefully. To date, no other news source or blog has done so. We will be the first.
#349-07
CITY OF NEWTON
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN
FEBRUARY 4, 2008
RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO END THE WAR IN IRAQ AND BEGIN AN IMMEDIATE, ORDERLY, RAPID WITHDRAWAL OF ALL UNITED STATES MILITARY FORCES FROM IRAQ
BE IT RESOLVED:
WHEREAS, the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq, which was passed by the United States Congress on October 11, 2002, cited Iraq’s possession of weapons of mass destruction as a primary reason for the use of United Armed Forces against Iraq; and
WHEREAS, on January 12, 2005, President Bush, having found no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, officially declared an end to the search; and WHEREAS, the war in Iraq, now in its fourth year, has caused the deaths of more than 3,700 American soldiers and an estimated 600,000 Iraqis, the physical and psychological wounding and disabling of more than 27,000 American soldiers and of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and the destruction of the homes, communities, and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis; and
WHEREAS, the United States occupation of Iraq has placed significant strains on the capacity of our Armed Forces, both active duty and reserve, as well as the National Guard; and
WHEREAS, the war and continued occupation have devastated Iraq’s physical and social infrastructure and led to widespread and continuous resistance to the U.S. presence that threatens the lives of Iraqi civilians and the men and women who compose the ranks of the U.S. Military; and
WHEREAS, the war in Iraq has created a climate of human rights violations including torture and detention of prisoners at Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, and other sites, that have inflamed anti-American passions throughout the world and have increased the terrorist threat to United States citizens; and
WHEREAS, the Administration’s current plans require an open ended and indefinite continuation of the war and include plans for permanent military bases in Iraq; and
WHEREAS, there is an urgent need to bring an end to this war because our military presence exacerbates sectarian and regional conflicts, and increases the risk the war will spread to neighboring countries; and
WHEREAS, the funds used for the war in Iraq are necessary to address the urgent needs of Newton and other communities for health care, education, and protection from natural and political threats; and
WHEREAS, long-term concurrent military operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq have strained military resources resulting in extended and multiple tours of duty for military personnel; and
WHEREAS, a newly commissioned U.S. armed forces study has found a rise in reported incidence of mental and emotional conditions resulting in increased suicides, depression, and divorce among military personnel and their families; and
WHEREAS, at a time when the need for health and social services for military personnel has never been greater, military care facilities such as Walter Reed Hospital, have been determined to be deficient and in need of significant rehabilitation; and
WHEREAS, particularly in the face of recent economic downturns, U.S. military veterans have been prevalent among those experiencing joblessness, mental illness, drug addiction and homelessness; and
WHEREAS, it is the duty of the Board of Alderman to act on behalf and in the best interest of the citizens of Newton,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Newton Board of Aldermen
- urges the President and the Defense Department to commence immediately an orderly and rapid withdrawal of all United States military personnel from Iraq;
- urges the President and the Department of State, to act in accordance with international law, by pursuing the security and stability of Iraq through diplomacywith the cooperation of other nations and the United Nations;
- urges members of Congress to use their legislative powers to bring about an end to the war and the adoption of other means to assist Iraq and defend the safety of the United States; and
- urges that appropriate state and federal agencies join with municipalities to provide comprehensive health and social care services for current U.S. militarypersonnel, U.S. veterans, and their families.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Newton Board of Alderman shall send copies of this resolution to President George W. Bush, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, to all members of the Massachusetts Congressional and Senatorial delegation, Governor Deval Patrick, Mayor David Cohen and to the Newton TAB, the major Boston-area newspapers and television stations.
Resolution Approved
20 yeas 4 nays (Aldermen Harney, Gentile, Salvucci, Yates)
R. Lisle Baker, President
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