The following resolution was adopted unanimously by the Alameda County Central Labor Council Executive Board on January 12, 2007. It will be referred to the delegates for action at the next Council meeting on January 22, 2007, and will almost certainly be adopted.
(As of 1/25/2006, updates were not yet available regarding the Jan. 22 meeting and action on the resolution.)
Not One More Dollar for Occupation and War in Iraq
Whereas, the electorate gave a clear and unambiguous mandate to the new Congress to end the occupation of Iraq and to bring all U.S. troops home now; and
Whereas, the election echoed what polls have been saying for months; and
Whereas, the Bush administration intends to seek an additional $160 billion to sustain the continuing occupation and military operations in Iraq on top of $70 Billion recently approved by Congress for that tragic and criminal enterprise; and
Whereas, such an appropriation will enable the Bush administration to continue the war for another two years, resulting in even more death and destruction for Iraqis and a mounting toll of deaths and disabling casualties for U.S. troops on top of the nearly 3000 U.S. troops who have already died and more than 20,000 who have been wounded, many of whom will be disabled for life; and
Whereas, a vote for this appropriation can in no way be justified by any member of Congress who claims to want an end to the occupation or who claims to be concerned for the welfare of our troops; and
Whereas, there are sufficient funds already available to secure the speedy safe evacuation of all U.S. troops, decommissioning of military installations and related actions associated with a complete military withdrawal from Iraq; and
Whereas, every dollar spent on the Iraq War is a dollar added to the U.S. debt which will be paid by our children and their children, and also makes it impossible to fund needed social programs here at home;
Therefore, be it resolved that the Alameda County Central Labor Council calls upon all members of Congress to vote against any appropriation for military operations and occupation in Iraq, except for the immediate safe return of all U.S. troops; and
Be it further resolved, that the Alameda County Central Labor Council urges all union members, their families and friends and other progressive forces in our community to communicate this message to members of Congress, and further urges its affiliates to inform their members of this pending appropriation and its meaning and consequences and to encourage them to undertake such communication; and in furtherance of these objectives, the Council will help to circulate the USLAW petition to Congress on this subject and encourage its affiliates to do also so; and
Be it finally resolved, that a copy of this resolution shall be forwarded to all members of the Bay Area Congressional delegation, and to the California Federation of Labor, and AFL-CIO and Change to Win federations with a request that these bodies take similar actions before the new Congress begins its session in January.