Crowley's Iraq War resolution

Cincinnati City Council member David Crowley will introduce a resolution in Monday's Finance Committee meeting that opposes President George W. Bush's proposed troop build-up in Iraq. More than 250 cities and counties -- big and small, ranging from Chicago to Sebastopol, Calif. -- have passed similar resolutions.

Here is the resolution proposed by Crowley:


RESOLUTION NO. ______________-2007


EXPRESSING the Council of the City of Cincinnati’s support for the U.S. troops currently serving Iraq, as well as those that have previously served, and those that have been killed or wounded during such service, and their families; and further EXPRESSING Council’s deep concern with regard to President Bush’s proposed plan to increase the United States’ military presence in Iraq by 21,500 troops.

WHEREAS, more than 137,000 United States military personnel, including many from Cincinnati, are bravely and honorably serving in Iraq and deserve the support of all Cincinnatians and all Americans; and

WHEREAS, the people of Cincinnati will always honor the honor and sacrifices of the American soldiers who have died or been wounded in combat in Iraq, including the more than 3,000 United States military personnel who have died in Iraq and the more than 22,500 who have been wounded; and

WHEREAS, on January 10, 2007 President George W. Bush announced his plan to increase the United States military involvement in Iraq, by deploying approximately 21,500 additional United States combat forces to Iraq; and

WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Cincinnati hereby expresses its deep concern regarding the President’s plan to increase the number of American troops in Iraq, in part due to the impact on the available federal resources required to provide for the urgent needs of the most vulnerable portions of the American population, including the need to provide for the health, education, and homeland security of the City of Cincinnati and of other major urban areas within the United States; and

WHEREAS, in excess of $250 billion has been appropriated by Congress to fund military operations and reconstruction in Iraq, while in contrast, the City’s total amount of HUD grants has decreased significantly since 2002, the year before the commencement of the war in Iraq: in 2002, the City of Cincinnati’s total HUD grant amount was $23.7 million; in 2006, the City received a total of $18.9 million, and is anticipated to receive an estimated $17.5 million in HUD funds in 2007, which amounts to a projected decrease of $6.2 million in annual funding levels since 2002, without accounting for inflation; and

WHEREAS, this decrease in federal grant money severely lessens the ability of the City of Cincinnati to rebuild its urban core, promote homeownership opportunities in Cincinnati, and provide critical housing services for the poor, the disabled, and for people with HIV-AIDS; and

WHEREAS, polls show that greater than 60% of Americans oppose sending additional American troops to Iraq, which indicates that the majority of Americans share this Council’s concerns with increasing U.S. troop levels in Iraq at this time; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Cincinnati:

Section 1. That Council supports the U.S. troops currently serving Iraq, as well as those that have previously served, and those that have been killed or wounded during such service, and their families.
Section 2. That Council expresses its deep concern with regard to President Bush’s proposed plan to increase the United States military presence in Iraq by 21,500 troops.
Section 3. That the City of Cincinnati, its elected leaders and its citizens have a responsibility to highlight the implications of sending additional troops to Iraq, and the resulting impact on available federal resources, which are urgently needed by the most vulnerable portions of the American population in the City of Cincinnati and other major urban areas within the United States.
Section 4. That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the minutes of Council and copies shall be sent to George W. Bush, President of the United States, and members of the Ohio U.S. Congressional delegation.


Passed: ______________________________, 2007



______________________________
Mayor


Attest: _______________________________
Clerk

Submitted by Council Member David Crowley