[Mpls] Anti-War Resolution

[Mike Jones]

By the time you get this, the most recent presentation of the Anti-War Resolution will have been presented. However, I am going to post it again, because those who oppose the resolution have failed to bring a solid argument against it. Instead, they brought an argument that may be used against anti-war resolutions at the city level in general (which the current resolution deals with). They have missed the mark entirely.

Read the resolution and counter the arguements contained within. If you can not, please be wise enough to admit that war will adversely affect the quality of life in Minneapolis.

Mike Jones
Uptown (Ward 10)

p.s. No one balks when the City Council passes routine resolutions (i.e. In Honor of Martin Luther King Day) that deal with national events/concerns. Furthermore, let's say the CC passed a resolution in support of a war. Would all of those who claim that the war is not locally relevant maintain their position? The national is simply a collection of states, which is a collection of cities.



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Minneapolis City Council Members Paul Zerby and Dean Zimmermann will present the anti-war resolution to the Intergovernmental Relations Committee on Tuesday, January 28.

Minneapolis City Council Members Paul Zerby (DFL-Ward 2) and Dean Zimmermann (G-Ward 6) have authored a resolution oppposing war with Iraq. The resolution will be considered by the Intergovernmental Relations Committee of the
Minneapolis City Council Tuesday, January 28 at 9:30 a.m. in City Hall Room 317.

Text of the resolution follows...

Resolution of the City of Minneapolis
by Zerby and Zimmermann

Opposing the use of preemptive military force to
overthrow the government of Iraq.

Whereas, a war in Iraq would cost an estimated $100
billion; and

Whereas, The State of Minnesota could expect to bear
a burden of $1.43 billion of this amount; and

Whereas, a household in Minneapolis, earning the
median income paid $1,982 in federal individual income
taxes in 2001; and

Whereas, These costs, especially during times of
record state budget deficits, make a war in Iraq a
local issue that affects every household in
Minneapolis; and

Whereas, The City of Minneapolis receives
approximately $22 million each year in Community
Development Block Grant funds; and

Whereas, These funds could be reduced or eliminated
to finance a war in Iraq; and

Whereas, homeland security is a vital need for our
country, yet according to a recent National League of
Cities report less than half of the municipalities
surveyed were prepared to handle major terrorist
attacks, and a war against Iraq could drain needed
resources from prevention of terrorist attacks at
home; and

Whereas, at least thirty six other cities, including
such cities as Baltimore, Chicago, Philadelphia, San
Francisco, and Seattle have approved anti-war
resolutions; and

Whereas, A long war against, and occupation of, Iraq
could place strains on the personnel resources of the
United States military; and

Whereas, a war would disproportionately affect
minorities, and according to the 2000 census,
minorities constitute 35% of residents of the City of
Minneapolis; and

Whereas, These costs, both economic and social, would
affect every household in the City of Minneapolis,
making the war a local issue; and

Whereas, real homeland security requires pursuing
basic needs of the American people such as health care
for all, guaranteed education and job training,
adequate and affordable housing, transportation
systems that do not poison the atmosphere or depend on
foreign oil, and a decentralized, sustainable,
non-polluting energy system that is not vulnerable to
terrorist attack; and

Whereas, there are serious questions about the moral
legitimacy of a preemptive, unilateral use of military
force to overthrow the government of Iraq; and

Whereas, there is a lack of clear and adequate
evidence of Iraqi involvement in the attacks of
September 11, or that Iraq poses a serious imminent
threat to the United States; and

Whereas, war in Iraq could have unpredictable
consequences not only for Iraq, but also for peace and
stability throughout the Middle East and for the
United States; and

Whereas, a United States war against Iraq would
demonstrate blatant disregard for international law;
and

Whereas, our nation should build international
support for more constructive and effective approaches
to press the Iraqi government to live up to its
international obligations, including continued
diplomatic efforts to resume rigorous, meaningful
inspections; effective enforcement of the military
embargo, maintenance of political sanctions and much
more carefully focused economic sanctions which do not
threaten the lives of innocent Iraqi civilians; and
non-military support for those in Iraq who offer
genuine democratic alternatives;

Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved by The City Council of
The City of Minneapolis:

That the City of Minneapolis opposes the use of
preemptive military force to overthrow the government
of Iraq, and encourages the federal government to
actively pursue nonviolent alternatives to war.

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