&8220;Freeborn County Democratic Farmer-Labor Party Urging Cessation of Combat Operations in Iraq and the Return of U.S. Troops&8221;

WHEREAS, the Freeborn County DFL supports the men and women deployed in Iraq, and honors the memory of those who have lost their lives in the war; and

WHEREAS, families in the United States have paid a heavy price for the U.S. involvement in Iraq, with the deaths of almost 4, 000 U.S. troops, and the wounding and disabling of more than 25,000 U.S. military personnel; and

WHEREAS, the war and occupation have also cost an estimated minimum of 200,000 Iraqi civilian deaths, including many men and women and children who simply found themselves &8220;in the wrong place at the wrong time&8221; in this ill-conceived conflict; and

WHEREAS, countless more Iraqis have been maimed, traumatized and wounded, or have suffered the destruction of homes, schools, sanitation and water treatment plants, hospitals and the environment plus the creation of 4 million refugees fleeing their homes; and

WHEREAS, more than 500 billion (now averaging nearly 2 billion a week) will be appropriated by Congress to fund military operations and reconstruction in Iraq, rather that to fund desperately needed education, health care, housing, nutrition and other social services in the United States, and humanitarian assistance abroad; and

WHEREAS, in October 2002, the United States Congress adopted a Joint Resolution to authorize the use of United States Armed Forces in Iraq on the basis of imminent threat of attack by Iraq, possession of weapons of mass destruction – including nuclear – by Saddam Hussein and the role of Saddam Hussein in the planning of the 9/11 attacks on the United States, all of which have subsequently been exposed as lies ad misrepresentations; and

WHEREAS, the costs of the call-up of Minnesota National Guard members for deployment in Iraq has been significant, as reckoned in lost lives, combat injuries, psychic trauma, disruption of family life, financial hardship for individuals, families and business, interruption of careers and damage of the fabric of civic life in many Minnesota communities; and

WHEREAS, the war and continued occupation have resulted in the devastation of Iraq&8217;s physical and social infrastructure and led to widespread and continuous resistance to U.S. occupation that threatens the lives of Iraqi civilians, and the men and women who compose the ranks of U.S. and other occupying forces; and

WHEREAS, the presence of United States forces in Iraq and the torture of prisoners at Abu Ghraib, Guantanomo Bay, Cuba, and other facilities have diminished our moral authority, and inflamed anti-American passions in much of the world; and

WHEREAS, polls showing a significant majority of Americans oppose the war; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Freeborn County Democratic Farmer-Labor Party, on behalf of Democrats everywhere urges the United States government to immediately commence an orderly and rapid withdrawal of United States military personnel from Iraq, dismantle U.S. military bases in Iraq, relinquish control of Iraq&8217;s economy and provide the necessary financial compensation and resources for Iraqis to rebuild Iraq; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Freeborn County Democratic Farmer-Labor Party urges Congressman Tim Walz, Senator Amy Klobuchar, and Senator Norm Coleman to support rapid withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and to oppose deployment of Minnesota National Guard troops to Iraq; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the financial resources used to prosecute the war be redirected to address the urgent needs of the most vulnerable portions of our population, including education, health care and full benefits for returning veterans; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution shall be sent to George W. Bush, President of the United States, the members of the Minnesota Congressional Delegation, Governor Tim Pawlenty, and Brian Melendez who is the Chair of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party.