Resolution of Iraq War exit plan

WHEREAS, no Weapons of Mass Destruction have been found within the borders in Iraq by the International Atomic Energy Agency, US forces, or the Bush administration's chief inspector, David Kay; and

WHEREAS, any significant link between al Qaeda and the Ba'athist regime of Saddam Hussein has been found to be non existent; and

WHEREAS, to date, 1,505 US soldiers have died in Iraq, well over 10,700 have been wounded, and estimates of Iraqi civilian deaths by credible sources, such as the British medical journal, Lancet, have topped 100,000; and

WHEREAS, 64% of the injuries received by our soldiers in Iraq has kept them from further duty but the House of Representatives has budgeted $2.6 Billion less than needed for FY2005, according to several Veterans' groups; and

WHEREAS, the future ability of the U.S. government to build international coalitions to protect America depends on the credibility of U.S. statements and the veracity of U.S. intelligence; and

WHEREAS, the financial costs to the nation, including Colorado Springs, has reached $300 Billion, and is estimated to increase with the latest appropriation to a per household cost of $3,415, or $5.8 Billion per month, which will deplete the financial reserves, harm the economy, and result in the financial neglect to the educational, health care, housing, employment, infrastructure, and social service needs of Colorado Springs' citizens; and

WHEREAS, the $151.1 Billion in appropriations, before the addition this month, would fund 23 million housing vouchers, healthcare for 27 million uninsured Americans, salaries for 3 million elementary school teachers, 678,000 new fire engines, over 20 million Head Start slots for children, healthcare coverage for 82 million children, or support the 2005 $6 Billion federal funding shortfall to the states; and

WHEREAS, the war in Iraq has had a devastating affect on the environment of Iraq and the entire region due to the use of 2,200 tons of "Depleted Uranium" and other modem weapons systems, the effects of which have not yet been mitigated or understood; and

WHEREAS, the war against Iraq has significantly increased oil and gas prices while boosting only selected corporate profits, such as Halliburton, presently being investigated for $160 million for meals never served our troops and $60 million in fuel cost overruns, while taking $6 million in kickbacks; and

WHEREAS, 364,000 reservists and National Guard troops have been called into service for as long as 2 years, with a typical loss of income for 30-40% ; and

WHEREAS, the United States has lost it's moral and ethical standing in the world as a result of the still developing torture scandals in Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, and Afghanistan; precipitated in no small part by Attorney General designate, Alberto Gonzales in his memos; and

WHEREAS, humane, international diplomatic efforts should be the preferred means to resolve international conflicts, and war should be an absolute last resort and not for political preference and expediency; and

WHEREAS, 46 soldiers from Fort Carson have been killed so far, and untold hundreds wounded;

WHEREAS, the cities of Boulder, Colorado, Santa Cruz, California, Chicago, Illinois, Baltimore, Maryland, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., Ithaca, New York, Detroit, Michigan, Union County, New Jersey and a host of other cities across the United States have adopted similar resolutions against the war in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, the citizens of Colorado Springs and its local elected officials have the constitutional right to petition the national government on this matter of grave concern to our community as part of the national and international debate now underway;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City Council of the City of Colorado Springs:

1) HEREBY affirms that the true and proper support of our soldiers and civilians in harms way is to remove them from Iraq as soon as possible and urges the United States government to begin that process immediately, with a stated and detailed timeline.
2) HEREBY affirms that true and proper support of our wounded troops and their families is the complete restoration of budgets for the Department of Veteran Affairs and other military healthcare providers, to keep all promises to military retirees, to restore combat pay levels, and to restore separation pay levels.
3) HEREBY opposes continuing non-military sanctions like those used between the 2 wars in Iraq.
4) HEREBY urges the Bush Administration and our representatives in Congress to work with and through the United Nations to build a true multinational peacekeeping force.
5) HEREBY urges the Bush Administration and our federal representatives to actively support diplomatic efforts to support and encourage democracy and respect for human rights in Iraq and all nations.
6) HEREBY urges the Bush Administration and our federal representatives to actively support UN led efforts to remove all depleted Uranium and other military waste from Iraq.
7) BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that no war against Iraq should have been undertaken at any time by the United States, and should never be taken in the future, without a full debate and vote in the United States Congress as required under Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution.