CUYAHOGA COUNTY RESOLUTION URGING THE SPEEDY
END TO THE WAR IN IRAQ
as of May 18, 2007
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 nearly 3,400 U.S. soldiers, including 145 soldiers from Ohio, and the wounding and disabling of more than 24,314 U.S. military personnel to date; and
WHEREAS, the war will further necessitate extending National Guard tours in Iraq. 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 life, 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 $426 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, Cuyahoga County’s share in that is nearly $400 million toward costs associated with the war in Iraq. And further that the cost to Ohioans is nearly $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, 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.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the County of Cuyahoga, on behalf of its citizens, urges that the United States continue funding operations in Iraq only insofar as a timetable for the orderly withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq begin as soon as possible.
BE IT ALSO RESOLVED, that the Congress should 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, unless he first seeks Congressional approval.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution shall be sent to George W. Bush, President of the United States, to the Congressional delegation of Ohio, and to the United States Congress.
Adopted 3-0
June 19, 2007