CITY OF CLEVELAND, OHIO
RESOLUTION URGING THE WITHDRAWAL
OF UNITED STATES TROOPS FROM IRAQ
June 11, 2007
Resolution No. 1005-07
WHEREAS, The United States has been engaged in a war in Iraq for more than four years; and
WHEREAS, U.S. Involvement in Iraq has resulted in the deaths of more than 3,500 U.S. soldiers, including 148 soldiers from Ohio, and the wounding and disabling of more than 25,350 U.S. military personnel to date, including 1,056 soldiers from Ohio; and
WHEREAS, in Resolution No. 100-03, adopted January 27, 2003, this Council opposed unilateral military action against Iraq and called for President Bush to seek a peaceful resolution of issues with Iraq as an alternative to war; and
WHEREAS, in Resolution No. 132-06, adopted January 23, 2006, this Council called for an immediate and comprehensive withdrawal of United States military personnel and bases from Iraq with no such actions having been taken or officially planned for thus far by the U.S. Government; and
WHEREAS, the war will further extend National Guard tours in Iraq, that the costs to the states of the call-up of National Guard members for deployment in Iraq have been significant, as reckoned in lost lives, combat injuries and psychic trauma, disruption of family live, financial hardship for individuals, families and businesses, interruption of careers and damage to the fabric of civic life in our communities, including natural disaster recovery; and
WHEREAS, The American troops have valiantly upheld their duty in Iraq under dire circumstances; and
WHEREAS, more than $432 billion has been appropriated by Congress to fund military operations and reconstruction in Iraq to date, money that could fund desperately needed education, health care, housing, nutrition and other social services in our communities in the United States or humanitarian assistance abroad; and
WHEREAS, the City of Cleveland's share in that is more than $405 million toward costs associated with the war in Iraq. And further that the cost to Ohioans is more than $15 billion; and
WHEREAS, previous budgets that have prioritized Iraq have led to cuts in critical block grants for states and have increased the federal debt, which compounded by interest payments, will likely lead to even larger cuts in funding for critical needs in the States; and
WHEREAS, a vast majority of Americans do not support continuing American involvement in Iraq and favor a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops as indicated by a majority of polls; and
WHEREAS, legal experts on all sides have determined that Congress has not only broad authority, but a long tradition of limiting escalation or forcing redeployment of troops through the Constitutionally-designated power of the purse; and
WHEREAS, this Council recognizes that the stability of Iraq is critical to the security of the citizens of Cleveland and to all Americans; and
WHEREAS, this resolution constitutes an emergency measure for the immediate preservation of public peace, prosperity, health or safety, now, there,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLEVELAND
Section 1. That this Council calls on the United States Government to commit and develop a firm strategy and timetable to begin the orderly and comprehensive withdrawal of U.S. military personnel and bases from Iraq as soon as possible.
Section 2. That this Council urges the United States Congress to pass legislation prohibiting the President from spending taxpayer dollars on any new escalation in Iraq, expansion of the conflict beyond Iraqi borders, or military operations against Iran.
Section 3. That this Council further urges the United States Government to provide the people of Iraq with all necessary non-military material aid necessary for the security of Iraq's citizens and for rebuilding Iraq.
Section 4. That this Council further urges the U.S. Congress to redirect financial resources used to prosecute the war in order to address the pressing needs of Americans, including health, education, and homeland security.
Section 5. That the Clerk of Council is directed to transmit copies of this resolution to President George W. Bush, United States Senator George Voinovich, United States Senator Sherrod Brown, the Congressional delegation of Ohio and to all members of the United States Congress.
Section 6. That this resolution is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and, provided it receives the affirmative vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to Council, it shall take effect and be in force immediately upon its adoption and approval by the Mayor; otherwise it shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.
Adopted 18-1.