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Proposed
Res. No. 549-A
Resolution
calling on the government of the United States to make all efforts to work
through the United Nations Security Council in a manner that would
reaffirm our nation's commitment to the rule of law and the primacy of
human rights in our international relationships and to take all
appropriate steps toward securing the participation of other nations and
international bodies in the effort to ensure that Iraq does not possess
biological, chemical or nuclear weapons and toward promoting human rights
for all the people of Iraq; and further calling on the government of the
United States to work through the United Nations Security Council and with
other nations to ensure the unimpeded access of United Nations weapons
inspectors to all areas of and facilities in Iraq and to ensure that the
inspectors be given a full and fair opportunity to conduct their efforts
in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions; and
further calling upon the Council of the City of New York to oppose a
pre-emptive military attack on Iraq unless it is demonstrated that Iraq
poses a real and imminent threat to the security and safety of the United
States or its allies or unless other options for achieving compliance with
United Nations resolutions calling for the elimination of weapons of mass
destruction and the means for their development have failed.
By Council Members Perkins, Barron, Brewer, Clarke, DeBlasio, Foster,
Jackson Koppell, Lopez, Martinez, the Speaker (Council Member Miller),
Monserrate, Quinn. Reed, Sanders, Seabrook, Serrano, Stewart and Yassky
Whereas, The manner in which the United States government is responding to
the
crisis involving Iraq has caused great concern among many New Yorkers,
resulting in one of the largest public demonstrations in the history of
the City of New York on February 15, 2003; and
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, Saddam Hussein has violated United Nations resolutions requiring
his
government to destroy biological, chemical and nuclear weapons, cease the
development of such weapons and permit international inspection of all
areas and facilities to ensure compliance with such resolutions; and
Whereas, Although international weapons inspectors who were ordered out of
Iraq in 1998 by Saddam Hussein have returned to Iraq in response to
international
pressure, particularly from the United States, there is evidence that
despite some
cooperation, Iraq is not fully complying with United Nations resolutions;
and
Whereas, It is imperative that Iraq not be allowed to possess, use or
export
biological, chemical or nuclear weapons, or weapons of terror, and that
Iraq fully comply with United Nations resolutions; and
Whereas, Since taking power in 1979, Saddam Hussein's regime has committed
human rights violations against the Iraqi people on a massive
scale-documented by
Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and others-and we condemn these
crimes and the ongoing oppression of the Iraqi people, including the
Kurdish, Shiite and other minority groups; and
Whereas, It is in the interest of all nations, including the United
States, that threats
to world peace and violations of human rights be dealt with in accordance
with international law and, whenever possible, on a multilateral basis;
and
Whereas, A pre-emptive United States military attack on Iraq, absent a
real and
imminent threat to the security and safety of the United States or its
allies and absent the support of the international community would violate
our commitments to the United Nations charter; and
Whereas, War has grave repercussions in terms of loss of life; and
Whereas, While it is difficult to project the financial costs of war, a
thorough
analysis published by the National Bureau of Economic Research estimates
that the total cost of invasion, occupation, peace-keeping,
reconstruction, nation-building and necessary humanitarian assistance
might range from $150 to $750 billion; and
Whereas,
Such cost would place an enormous strain on our nation's ability to
maintain the infrastructure, human services and social programs necessary
for our nation's security, general welfare and progress; and
Whereas, It has not been substantiated that all other means of disarming
Saddam
Hussein in accordance with United Nations resolutions have been attempted
and have failed; and
Whereas, The United States government has not articulated how a military
attack
would result in the formation of an Iraqi government that rejects the
development of
nuclear, biological or chemical weapons and promotes freedom and
democracy; and
Whereas, In the event that our armed forces are called into combat in
Iraq, we
recognize, honor and appreciate the commitment, service and valor of our
military
personnel, and together with their families, we fervently hope for their
safe return; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the government of the United States should make all efforts
to
work through the United Nations Security Council in a manner that would
reaffirm our nation's commitment to the rule of law and the primacy of
human rights in our
international relationships, and should take all appropriate steps toward
securing the participation of other nations and international bodies in
the effort to ensure that Iraq that does not possess biological, chemical
or nuclear weapons and toward promoting human rights for all people of
Iraq; and be it further
Resolved, That the government of the United States should work through the
United Nations Security Council and with other nations to ensure the
unimpeded access of United Nations weapons inspectors to all areas of and
facilities in Iraq and to ensure that the inspectors be given a full and
fair opportunity to conduct their efforts in accordance with United
Nations Security Council resolutions; and be it further
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York opposes a pre-emptive
military attack on Iraq unless it is demonstrated that Iraq poses a real
and imminent threat
to the security and safety of the United States or its allies or unless
all other options for achieving compliance with United Nations resolutions
calling for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction and the means
for their development have failed.
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