Res. No. 1121 Title Resolution urging President George W. Bush and the United States Government to withdraw the United States Armed Forces from Iraq as soon as is practicable and under no circumstances later than after the formation of a democratic government in Iraq as contemplated by United Nations Security Council Resolution No. 1511, unless they remain as part of a multinational force authorized by the United Nations Security Council. Body By Council Members DeBlasio, Barron, Brewer, Clarke, Comrie, Foster, Jackson, Jennings, Sanders, Seabrook, Serrano, Stewart, Vann and Quinn Whereas, The Council of the City of New York is the locally elected voice of the people of the City of New York; and Whereas, Resolution No. 549-A, which was passed by this body on March 12, 2003, opposed a preemptive military attack on Iraq; and Whereas, A coalition of military forces from the United States, Great Britain, Poland and other nations have subsequently occupied Iraq and have deposed the regime of Saddam Hussein; and Whereas, The men and women of our armed forces serving in Iraq have acted bravely in the service of our country; and Whereas, Our armed services continue to be the targets of guerilla-style methods of warfare on a daily basis, resulting in the deaths of over 100 military personnel since President Bush declared the end of major combat operations on Iraq; and Whereas, The United States has a humanitarian and legal responsibility under the Geneva Conventions to assist in the reconstruction of civilian facilities destroyed in the war with Iraq and take appropriate actions to restore security and order; and Whereas, On September 7, 2003, President Bush submitted a Fiscal Year 2004 supplemental appropriations request to Congress that seeks an additional $87 billion for continuing operations and rebuilding efforts in Iraq, which is more than the combined total of all state budget deficits in the United States and exceeds annual federal spending on basic education; and Whereas, Since President Bush took office in January 2001, the United States federal deficit has increased dramatically and has been estimated by the Congressional Budget Office to be approximately $401 billion for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2003; and Whereas, Both New York City and New York State, along with many other cities and states, have been forced to lay off workers and make cuts to vital services as a result of a national recession and the nation's current difficult economic conditions; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York urges President George W. Bush and the United States Government to withdraw the United States Armed Forces from Iraq as soon as is practicable and under no circumstances later than after the formation of a democratic government in Iraq as contemplated by United Nations Security Council Resolution No. 1511, unless they remain as part of a multinational force authorized by the United Nations Security Council; and, be it further Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the United States Government to act consistently to fulfill its humanitarian responsibilities under the Geneva Conventions; and, be it further Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the United States Government to accelerate and enhance its efforts to seek the cooperation and assistance of allied nations in performing humanitarian and rebuilding tasks in Iraq, including the sharing of greater responsibility with the United Nations. Body LS# 3396 RA 10/22/2003 H:/word/resolutions/DeBlasio/ls#3396 |1013| |1013|