A Resolution to Bring Home the Troops

A RESOLUTION TO BRING HOME THE TROOPS

WHEREAS, The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 was passed by the U.S. Congress on October 11, 2002, and Public Law 107-243 cited Iraq's possession of weapons of mass destruction as a primary reason for the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq; and

WHEREAS, On January 12, 2005, President Bush officially declared an end to the search within Iraq for weapons of mass destruction - of which none at all were found; and

WHEREAS, The Bush Administration, using false and in some instances contrived intelligence estimates, misled the country into an immoral, illegal, unnecessary and unwise invasion and occupation of Iraq, a sovereign country that had neither attacked nor posed an immediate threat to the United States, thus both attacking the foundations of democracy and jeopardizing our national security; and

WHEREAS, Iraq had no operative connection with Al Qaeda nor the events of September 11, 2001 despite the Bush administration's repeated claims to the contrary; and

WHEREAS, More than 1,860 US soldiers have been killed (over 90\% of these after President Bush's declaration of May 1st, 2003, that major combat operations in Iraq had ended), thousands of US soldiers have been wounded, and untold tens of thousands of innocent Iraqi men, women and children have been killed, wounded or made homeless in the continuing conflict in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, The United States' occupation of Iraq has contributed, is contributing, and will for as long as it persists continue to contribute both to the growth of an Iraqi insurgency intent on the expulsion of outside forces and to increased recruitment by anti-U.S. terrorist organizations; and

WHEREAS, The presence of American forces in Iraq, and the contemporaneous torture - physical and mental - of prisoners at Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo Bay, and at other overseas facilities of 'rendition', have inflamed anti-American passions in the region and beyond, and thus increased the terrorist threat to U.S. citizens, both at home and abroad; and

WHEREAS, The invasion and occupation of Iraq have fatigued our armed forces, including Active, Reserve, and National Guard troops - who are serving unexpectedly long, and often repeated, tours of duty in Iraq - and generally have drained our military of much of its past capability to respond to crises in other parts of the world; and

WHEREAS, Sensible priorities in fighting terrorists require forming friendly partnerships with like-minded nations around the world, the illegal and largely unilateral invasion and continued occupation of Iraq has undermined this required condition, thereby denying real security both to U.S. citizens at home and abroad and to our friends and allies; and

WHEREAS, More than 188 billion dollars have been spent on the Iraq invasion and occupation, with unaccounted billions having disappeared into the coffers of private, no-bid, politically-connected contractors in a massive display of fraud and graft, and over the next year a continuing occupation will take an additional 81 billion dollars away from priorities at home, thereby creating severe burdens on our economy and our people; and

WHEREAS, Collectively, these matters continue to cause deep concern at home and abroad about the policies, practices, and intentions of the United States, to the extent that abroad the United States is widely regarded with suspicion, hostility and distrust; and

WHEREAS, We demand accountability by this Administration and are showing our resolve to limit further damage in an illegal war, this resolution in no way calls into question the patriotism and heart of our troops; indeed, we support and are indebted to the sacrifices the members of our military and their families make; and therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED,
That the Progressive Caucus of Democrats Abroad (in formation) supports the immediate commencement of a responsible and orderly, but early and rapid, withdrawal of all United States military personnel from Iraq; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
That the Progressive Caucus of Democrats Abroad (in formation), demonstrating progressive and responsible leadership, strongly advocates the immediate commencement of planning by all relevant Federal agencies for an early and rapid withdrawal of all United States military personnel from Iraq, and furthermore urges that such advocacy be also adopted as policy by Democrats Abroad, the Democratic National Committee, and the Democratic leadership in both the House and Senate; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
That the Progressive Caucus of Democrats Abroad (in formation), recognizing generally that it is simply the right thing to do, as well as recognizing specifically that the stability of Iraq is crucial to the security of the citizens of the United States, supports the provision of all necessary non-military material aid as shall be necessary for the security of Iraq's citizens and for the rebuilding of Iraq.