AFSCME Local 1000 Troop Withdrawal

Civil Service Employees Association, Local 1000, AFSCME, in NY Calls for Withdrawal from Iraq

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS AND VETERANS: END THE WAR AND BRING THEM HOME!

Whereas: CSEA honors our men and women in uniform, and recognizes the heroism of their sacrifices; and

Whereas: Opposition to the war in no way implies criticism of the men and women fighting in Iraq; and

Whereas: Both AFSCME and the AFL-CIO have adopted resolutions saying our troops should be brought home as soon as possible; and

Whereas: 2,690 service members have been killed and almost 19,945 have been wounded in action; and

Whereas: The war has already cost billions of dollars, money that is desperately needed for poor and working Americans; and

Whereas: Our troops have accomplished the missions of removing Saddam Hussein from power and ensuring that Iraq possesses no weapons capable of threatening the United States and that there is now an elected government; and

Whereas: An open ended US military presence in Iraq arguably offers no assurance of improving the security of the United States; and

Whereas: American men and women should not be asked to kill and die except in defense of their country; and

Whereas: A growing number of American people and more and more elected officials now believe that the decision to go to war was wrong and support a plan to bring our troops home as soon as possible.

Therefore be it resolved: That CSEA expresses its profound gratitude and admiration for the men and women in uniform; and

Be it further resolved: That CSEA urges the Bush administration to stop cutting veteran’s benefits and that it is of profound importance that all veterans receive the benefits both promised and deemed necessary through sacrifice; and

Be it finally resolved: That a plan for the quickest possible withdrawal of US troops, when practically feasible and consistent with their safety, be adopted.