Opposing War on Iran Resolution

Type: Resolution

Organization: nowaroniran-chicago.org

Source File: http://nowaroniran-chicago.org/iran_resolution.pdf

Text:

WHEREAS, The Bush Administration and its Congressional allies are engaging in a systematic campaign to convince the American people that the Islamic Republic of Iran poses a threat to the American nation, to American troops in the Middle East and to U.S. allies, and

WHEREAS, This campaign bears a strong resemblance to that waged during the lead-up to the Iraq War and occupation, with the use of unreliable sources, exaggerated threat assessments, the selective use of information, unsubstantiated accusations about Iran’s nuclear program and its supply of weapons to Iraqi forces as centerpieces of their case to the American people for aggressive action against Iran, and

WHEREAS, Iran is not a threat to the United States: It does not possess a nuclear weapon and is not threatening to attack the U.S.; the International Atomic Energy Agency has found no evidence that Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapon, and

WHEREAS, A 2007 National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), representing the consensus view all 16 U.S. intelligence agencies, concluded that Iran froze its nuclear weapons program in 2003, and

WHEREAS, Iran is a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and Iran’s nuclear program, including enriching uranium, is currently legal and in compliance with said treaty, and

WHEREAS, No compelling evidence has been presented to support U.S. accusations that the Iranian government is involved in supplying weapons to combatants in Iraq, and

WHEREAS, The February 2007 U.S. National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) states that Iran’s involvement in Iraq “is not likely to be a major driver of violence” there, and

WHEREAS, The U.S. has ratified the United Nations Charter, which states that no nation shall use force or threat of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any nation (Article 2.4) and that, if attacked, a nation may respond only once before informing the U.N. and bringing the conflict to the U.N. Security Council (Article 51), and

WHEREAS, Iran has not threatened to attack the United States and no compelling evidence has convincingly shown it likely to initiate such an attack, and

WHEREAS, Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution provides that only Congress has the authority to declare war, and

WHEREAS, An attack on Iran is likely to cause untold thousands of American and Iranian casualties, lead to major economic dislocations, and threaten a much wider and more disastrous war in the Middle East, and

WHEREAS, An attack on Iran is likely to inflame hatred for the U.S. in the Middle East and elsewhere, inspire terrorism, and lessen the security of Americans in Chicago and worldwide, and

WHEREAS, An attack on Iran would be a devastating setback to those people in Iran struggling for freedom and democracy and nothing herein should be construed as supportive of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and

WHEREAS, The Iraq war and occupation has already cost the lives of 3,882 American soldiers, the maiming and wounding of 38,164 American soldiers, the death and maiming of over one million Iraqi civilians, and

WHEREAS, The Iraq War and occupation has cost American taxpayers more than $472 billion and the citizens of Chicago nearly $5 billion, and

WHEREAS, Any conflict with Iran is likely to incur far greater costs and divert more precious national resources away from desperate human needs in our great urban centers, now therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Chicago City Council does hereby urge the Chicago Congressional delegation to clearly express the will of the people of Chicago in opposing any U.S. attack on Iran, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Chicago City Council does hereby urge the Chicago Congressional delegation to clearly express the will of the people of Chicago for diplomatic, not military, engagement with Iran, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Chicago City Council doe herby request that U.S. Senator Barack Obama and U.S. Senator Richard Durbin provide leadership in the U.S. Senate in support of Congress re-establishing its Constitutional authority over U.S. foreign policy and war policy and funding, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Chicago City Council direct the Chicago City Clerk Miguel del Valle to send copies of this resolution to Senators Obama and Durbin, all Chicago Congressional Representatives, President George Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, all local media outlets, and arrange that a copy of this resolution be placed on the City of Chicago website.