RESOLUTION URGING CESSATION OF COMBAT OPERATIONS IN IRAQ
AND THE RETURN OF U.S. TROOPS
WHEREAS the current occupation of Iraq by the U.S.
is a very much a local Nederland
and surrounding mountain community issue,
inasmuch as
a. Nederland's young people serving in the military may be killed in pursuing this war (52 dead and several hundred wounded already in Colorado);
b. It is draining enormous resources to pay for this war (roughly $200,000,000 for Boulder County so far), which clearly affects a multitude of economic issues for the town of Nederland;
c. Nederland residents are directly impacted by the $452,000,000,000 that has been removed from our national coffers;
d. Nederland residents are directly affected by our resultant loss of goodwill abroad, making it more difficult for residents to travel, do business, and otherwise engage with people from around the world; and
WHEREAS the citizens of the Town of Nederland, Colorado and their local elected officials have the constitutional right to petition the national government on any matter of grave concern to our town, the nation, or the world community; and
WHEREAS on January 28, 2003, the Nederland Board of Trustees passed a resolution opposing a unilateral, preemptive U.S. led military action against Iraq that would violate international law, supporting instead a genuinely multilateral diplomatic approach; and
WHEREAS the Nederland Board of Trustees and the citizens of Nederland respect and honor the men and women serving in the United States Armed Forces in Iraq and recognize the sacrifices that each of them is making; and are concerned for their well-being and safety, as well as that of the Iraqi people; and
WHEREAS the war in Iraq, has already caused: a) the deaths of more than 3,600 American soldiers and close to a million Iraqi people; b) the physical and psychological wounding and disabling of more than 16,000 American soldiers and of tens of thousands of Iraqis; and c) the destruction of the homes, communities, and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis; and
WHEREAS the cost of call-up and re-deployment of members of the Armed Forces for deployment in Iraq has been significant, in terms of loss of lives, combat injuries, psychological trauma, disruption of family life, financial hardship for individual families, and businesses, interruption of civilian careers, and damage to the fabric of civic life in communities everywhere; and
WHEREAS the cost of the Iraq war has diverted federal funds from programs and services in towns such as Nederland, including education, housing, social services, infrastructure improvements, and homeland security; and
WHEREAS the federalization and deployment of the Colorado National Guard members to the war in Iraq threatens the safety and well being of the citizens of Nederland because the Colorado National Guard is being diverted from its mandated task of responding to local emergencies including fires, floods, and earthquakes; and
WHEREAS our continued presence in Iraq is making the situation steadily worse, not better;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Trustees the Town of Nederland hereby:
1. Urges the United States Government to immediately commence an orderly and prompt withdrawal of United States military personnel, United States troops and military equipment from Iraq, including the closing of United States military bases; and
2. Urges the U. S. government to provide funding for the reconstruction of Iraq, the reconstruction process to be fully administered by Iraqis and audited by an international body; and
3. Urges the U.S. government to pursue security and stability in Iraq through diplomacy.
4. Urges the U.S. government to establish a plan to return to Iraq full possession and control of its own oil and other natural resources; and
3. Calls upon the President and the Congress of the U.S. to support our troops by ensuring that returning veterans receive compensation and care including full mental and physical health, education, disability, and rehabilitation benefits; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED; That a copy of this resolution shall be sent to George W. Bush, President of the United States, Senator Wayne Allard, Senator Ken Salazar, and Representative Mark Udall, and Colorado governor Bill Ritter.