Resolution of the City of Richmond Opposing U.S. Military Involvement in Iraq and Iran
Whereas, current U.S. foreign policy in the middle-east is counterproductive with respect to the interests of the American people and the peoples of the middle-east; and

Whereas, the initial invasion of Iraq was based on false and misleading information about yet undiscovered “weapons of mass destruction” and unsubstantiated ties between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda in Iraq presented by the Bush Administration to the U.S. Congress, the United Nations, and the American people; and

Whereas, continued presence of the U.S. military in Iraq as an occupying army,­ a situation which has already gone on longer than the U.S. involvement in World War II – is not leading to peace and/or a stable and sovereign Iraq under the control of the people of Iraq; and

Whereas, polls conducted by the most reputable and accurate U.S. polling organizations have shown that the vast majority of Iraqis want the United States military to leave their country; and

Whereas, the Bush Administration is now circulating information of questionable authenticity about the involvement of the government of Iran in exporting weapons and explosive devises into Iraq ­a claim about which the U.S. commander on the ground in Iraq has cast serious doubt; and

Whereas, the Administration's questionable information about Iran follows exactly the same pattern as the information that led to the current invasion and occupation of Iraq; and

Whereas, the Bush Administrations’ release of information about the alleged involvement of Iran in providing weapons to Iraq is intended to justify an attack on Iran; and

Whereas, the Bush Administration's approach to the war in Iraq has cost the lives of almost 4,000 US soldiers, the serious maiming of approximately 30,000 US soldiers, and the death and maiming of hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians and non combatants as well as the waste of over $400,000,000,000 of American tax dollars that might have been put to much better use in serving the education, health care, job training, housing, human services, and other domestic needs of the residents of Richmond, the Bay Area and throughout the United States; and

Whereas, the vast majority of the American public, both through the election in November 2006 and as demonstrated in public opinion polls, now have expressed a clear desire for the complete and rapid withdrawal of US military forces from Iraq; and

Whereas, significant numbers of Richmond residents have asked the Richmond City Council to represent their opposition to the continued U.S. military occupation of Iraq, the expansion of the war in Iraq, and its spread to neighboring countries; and

Whereas, the Richmond City Council has been asked by our local residents to play a role in amplifying their support for strong Congressional action to oppose the current policies of the Bush Administration in the middle-east, and to support the calls made by Rep. George Miller, who states: “The current U.S. strategy in Iraq is not working now and it will not ever work”; and

Whereas, both of our State Representatives, California Senator Don Perata and Assemblymember Loni Hancock opposed the war and have attempted to place a ballot measure on the California ballot calling for President Bush to immediately withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq; and

Whereas, the City of Richmond is committed to promote and build peace among its residents, its neighbors and the global community because we see the direct consequences local and global unjustifiable aggression and violence;

Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Richmond City Council does hereby express its support for Congressional efforts to limit the war authority of the Bush Administration with respect to continuing and/or expanding the war in Iraq or taking, or supporting, or encouraging any military action against Iran; and

Be It Further Resolved, that the City of Richmond calls on its representatives in Congress and the Senate to prohibit the use of funds to carry out any military action against Iran without explicit Congressional authorization; that Congress ensures that our relations with Iran are consistent with international law; and that they encourage talks, without pre-conditions, between the US and Iran on nuclear issues and ending the violence in Iraq; and

Be It Further Resolved, that the Richmond City Council does hereby request that our California State Legislators, Assemblymember Loni Hancock and State Senator Don Perata, continue to provide leadership in the California legislature in support of a rapid withdrawal of the U.S. military occupation of Iraq; and

Be It Further Resolved, that the Richmond City Council appreciates and supports the men and women in uniform for serving our country; and

Be It Finally Resolved, that the Richmond City Council directs Mayor Gayle McLaughlin to send copies of this Resolution to the President of the United States, our Congressional representatives, our California legislative representatives, the League of California Cities, and all local media outlets; and to arrange that a copy of this resolution be placed on the City of Richmond website.