------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Jan. 30, 2003 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL PASSES ANTI-WAR RESOLUTION By Bill Massey Chicago The Chicago City Council, by a vote of 46 to 1, passed a resolution on Jan. 16 opposing the Bush administration's "go it alone" policy of war on Iraq. It is the largest city in the United States to have passed a resolution against the impending war. The resolution called for diplomacy, questioned U.S. unilateral military action and charged that this action would endanger the lives of U.S. citizens. It went on to charge that a preemptive and unilateral U.S. military attack would violate international law and commitments to the UN Charter, and would isolate the U.S. in the world community. Many Chicago residents were already astounded when the Republican governor of Illinois removed all prisoners from the state's death row. Now, for the City Council to vote a resolution denouncing the U.S. government's war drive is almost a surrealistic experience. That is, until you consider some very important circumstances. The passage of this resolution reflects the growing lack of confidence in the Bush administration, even from within the chambers of the government. This is particularly true at the level of city and state governments, where budget deficits are piling up even as the Bush administration throws billions and even trillions of dollars down the rat hole of war spending. Every social program--be it education, healthcare, housing, programs for the youth or the elderly--is being put on the butcher's table for the killing. It's the members of the City Council who will be seen on the local level as the knife wielders. In better times, they could live with that, but that was then and this is now. The resolution pointed out that the war will cost at least $9 to $13 billion a month, thereby cutting federal programs that benefit Chicago residents. For the majority of the City Council members to vote for the resolution needed the tacit approval of Mayor Richard Daley. When asked his opinion, Daley said, "Nobody wants war." The growing economic crisis is eating away at public confidence in government at all levels. At the same time, there is a growing antiwar movement reaching into all levels of society. Without these factors, even this flawed resolution would not have been brought forward. The resolution has great weaknesses. It says that if U.S. troops are sent to war, the City Council will give them its "unconditional support" in carrying out their tasks, even if there is disagreement over these tasks. It also supports inspections of Iraq backed up by "sufficient police force." The resolution does not prepare people to oppose the war once it starts. Nonetheless, it's another sign that the emerging grassroots mass movement that wants jobs, healthcare and human needs, not war, is having an impact throughout this society. - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe wwnews- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] Support the voice of resistance http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. To subscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
