Below is a copy of an antiwar resolution being considered by my hometown, Portland, Me. Too bad a big, sophisticated berg like Minneapolis can't do this. (Bar Harbor, Me., another huge metropolis, is also considering a resolution).
Linda Mann Kingfield (draft as of 1/13/03) Resolution on Possible War Against Iraq=20 WHEREAS, the people of Portland join with others throughout the United = States in having suffered a grievous loss of life from the terrorist = attacks on September 11, 2001; and WHEREAS, based on current information no proven linkage has been made = between the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and the government = of Iraq; and WHEREAS, a war with Iraq will jeopardize the lives of American soldiers = and will kill many innocent Iraqi civilians, who have already suffered = enormously under Saddam Hussein's rule and United Nations sanctions; and WHEREAS, a war with Iraq would threaten to further destabilize the = Middle East, possibly leading to a wider, regional war and increased = support for Al Qaeda and other groups dedicated to terrorism, making the = citizens of Portland and the rest of United States less, not more, = secure; and WHEREAS, there is an urgent need for genuine multilateral action to = eliminate weapons of mass destruction world wide; and WHEREAS, the international community supports United Nation's weapons = inspections to achieve disarmament in Iraq and governments around the = world still oppose United States military action without express consent = of the United Nations Security Council; and WHEREAS, the state of Maine and the city of Portland are suffering from = fiscal crises such that programs that benefit working people and the = poor are being threatened by severe budget cuts. And it has been = estimated that a war in Iraq would likely cost U.S. taxpayers over $100 = billion, an amount that could go a long way to meeting our health and = education needs; Now, therefore, be it resolved that the City Council of Portland: HEREBY, opposes a preemptive invasion of Iraq by the United States, but = supports instead a genuinely multilateral diplomatic approach to the = valid objective of disarming Saddam Hussein, sanctioned and directed by = the United Nations; and RESOLVED, that the Portland City Clerk shall forward copies of this = resolution to President Bush, Senators Collins and Snowe and to = Representatives Allen and Michaud. TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
