PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Cities vs War on Iran
by Carl Davidson Wednesday, Dec. 05, 2007 at 5:13 AM
carld717@aol.com

Pittsburgh has a City Council. Can we liven up their deliberations a bit with something like this? --Carl Davidson, Raccoon Twp. .

This evening the Gary, Indiana Common Council passed the following
resolution opposing war on Iran. This is the first such resolution
passed by a city east of the Mississippi. ~ Tony Shafton, NW Indiana Coalition Against the Irraq War, Chicagoans Against War & Injustice

....................

A RESOLUTION OPPOSING WAR WITH IRAN

WHEREAS, The Bush Administration and many of its Congressional allies
are engaging in a systematic campaign to convince the American people
and their representatives in Congress that the Islamic Republic of
Iran threatens the safety and security of the United States of
America, members of our armed forces overseas, and our allies; and

WHEREAS, In a strategy disturbingly reminiscent of the lead-up to the
Iraq War and Occupation, the Bush Administration and its
Congressional allies are using unreliable sources, exaggerated threat
assessments, selective use of information, and questionable
accusations as centerpieces of their case to the American people for
war against Iran; and

WHEREAS, A U.S. strike on Iran would be deadly for tens if not
hundreds of thousands of Iranian men, women and children; and

WHEREAS, According to the estimates of many respectable Western
intelligence agencies, Iran is years away from having a usable
nuclear weapon, if indeed it is seeking to manufacture one at all;
yet nevertheless the Bush administration seeks to convince the world
that Iran's nuclear program is a clear and present danger; and

WHEREAS, Iran has not threatened to attack the United States and has
not been convincingly shown to be likely to initiate such an attack;
and therefore a U.S. attack would violate the United Nations
Charter's prohibition against preemptive military attack; and

WHEREAS, Iran is a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and
Iran's nuclear power program, including enriching uranium, is
currently legal and in compliance with the NPT; and

WHEREAS, A widening of the United States war in the Middle East would
almost certainly drive all segments of Iranian society into increased
hostility toward the United States, turning potential friends into
enemies by sending a signal that the United States prefers violence
to the peaceful resolution of disputes, and would invite retaliation
against our troops in Iraq and elsewhere; and

WHEREAS, Comprehensive direct diplomatic talks between the United
States and Iran would likely result in improved relations and reduced
tensions between our nations; and

WHEREAS, Continued threats of violence and other aggressive actions
exacerbate tensions with Iran and could obstruct efforts to cooperate
with Iran over ending violence in Iraq, thereby delaying the
withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq; and

WHEREAS, The Iraq War has already cost the lives of almost 4,000
American soldiers, the serious maiming of over 30,000 American
soldiers, and the death and maiming of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi
civilians, as well as the cost of over 400 billion dollars of
American tax dollars; and embarking on yet another military campaign
against a much stronger adversary could only further exacerbate
international tensions, endanger the lives and livelihoods of
millions of people both here and abroad, and do nothing to address
the most serious problems facing the American people and humanity
generally; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Gary Common Council calls on our representatives
in Congress, Senator Richard G. Lugar, Senator Evan Bayh and
Representative Peter Visclosky, (1) to ensure that no preemptive
military attack by the U.S. against Iran takes place; (2) to make
clear to the administration that such a preemptive attack has not
been authorized by any law, resolution, court ruling or article of
the Constitution; (3) to support diplomatic engagement with Iran; and
(4) to maintain pressure against all escalations of war in the Middle
East; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Gary Common Council directs the City
Clerk to send copies of this Resolution to the President of the
United States, our Congressional representatives, our Indiana
legislative representatives, and all local media outlets; and to
arrange that a copy of this resolution be placed on the Gary City
website.

carldavidson.blogspot.com