I and two others presented a "U.S. Out of Iraq" Resolution for emergency passage at Tuesday's Santa Cruz City Council meeting. It is based on a resolution presented by Green Party Arcata Councilmember Dave Meserve--which passed in Arcata some months ago (and also included "U.S. Out of Afghanistan").

While the City Council did pass a resolution back in 2002 asking that the U.S. not go into Iraq, it has failed to follow up on resolutions introduced in the spring of 2003 calling for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops.

Outgoing mayor Scott Kennedy is co-founder of the Resource Center for Non-Violence but has ignored the call for a "U.S. Out" resolution throughout his Mayorship this year. he and his Council did so again last night.

Supporters of the "U.S. Out" resolution can e-mail City council at citycouncil (at) ci.santa-cruz.ca.us .

The Council can be left a verbal message on its 24-hour message line: 420-5020.
Those who wish to support HUFF (Homeless Unite for Friendship & Freedom)'s Vigil Against Two Wars (the War in Iraq and the Local War Against the Poor).

The Resolution was also presented with "Urgency Findings" that would have allowed City Council to act on the Resolution even though it was presented after the 72-hour agenda deadline.


URGENCY FINDINGS

Note to the Public: Normally Santa Cruz City Council resolutions require 72-hour notice to the public before they can be considered and voted on. However an urgent matter can be acted on (a) with a super-majority of 5 votes on the Council and (b) if an urgency finding is accepted by the Council.

Whereas the Continued War and Occupation of Iraq causes both direct and indirect financial and physical injury to the people of Santa Cruz, through funding lost for vitally needed housing, social services, and public safety needs;

Whereas citizens from the area are directly involved in the war in Iraq, either as soldiers, contractors, or family of people involved there;

Whereas the expanding toll of soldier deaths has recently impacted this County directly with the deaths of Morgen Jacobs and Victor Gonzalez;

Whereas the human and financial cost of caring for veterans disabled or injured by the unnecessary war there is an outrageous and unnecessary result of this endless war;

Whereas the U.S. invasion of the Iraqi city of Falluja began two days ago--too late for this Council to have put the matter on its regular agenda;

Whereas members of the Santa Cruz community may lose loved ones in this unnecessary and immoral assault;

Whereas immediate action by the City and by the Government of the United States will save lives;

Therefore, the following resolution urging an immediate end to the bombing and invasion of Falluja and withdrawal of U.S. Troops from Iraq needs to be passed as quickly as possible.



RESOLUTION CALLING FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE AND WITHDRAWAL FROM FALLUJAH AND A SPEEDY WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS FROM IRAQ

In the belief that only by speaking out can we hope to change the world…

WHEREAS THE US INVASION AND OCCUPATION OF IRAQ:

Is founded on the lie that Saddam possessed and was poised to use weapons of mass destruction, and that he was involved in 9/11.

Is a calculated step in long term military plans for American world domination that include:
Controlling areas that are rich in precious resources, like oil.

Setting up strategic military control of nations such as Iran.

Enforcing America’s will anywhere in the world, with little or no provocation.

Is enriching corporations that have ties to this administration, by the granting of exclusive contracts to rebuild infrastructure.

Is in violation of the process required to declare war, under the US Constitution.

Is in violation of international law, including the UN Charter, the Geneva Accords and the Nuremberg Principles, and therefore in violation of the US Constitutional provision for treaties as equal to the Highest Law of the land.

Has provoked ever more rage among victims of the wars, and have increased the likelihood of further attacks, rather than making us safer.

Has resulted in the deaths of over 1100 US soldiers, who all died for no good reason, fighting to support lawless war policies, based upon the lies of our president and his inner circle.

Has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians (estimated recently by John Hopkins medical researches to be 100,000 or more), whose only crime was to be in the path of US attacks.

Has physically and psychologically injured hundreds of thousands of innocents.

Has, in violation of international law, destroyed the infrastructure of Iraq.

Has lowered our esteem among the nations and people of the Earth.

Has cost taxpayers over 200 Billion Dollars,
Which amounts to over $700 for every man, woman and child in America.
Which amounts to over $35 Million within the city of Santa Cruz – nearly half the annual general fund budget.
Which could have bought universal healthcare for every American

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Santa Cruz calls for:
The immediate withdrawal of all American troops from Fallujah and the end to the invasion of that city on the eve of elections
The immediate withdrawal of all American troops from Iraq, before one more soldier or civilian needlessly dies, concurrent with:
The United States Government turning over to groups representative of different factions in Iraq, including insurgents, with the help of the United Nations, the League of Arab States and other neutral parties the authority for creating and maintaining peace and order there with the goal of providing security and allowing the Iraqis to settle their own affairs and reclaim their own resources;.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Santa Cruz calls for:
A free and open international bidding process in all future awards of contracts for reconstruction or for other goods or services, within Iraq.
Full benefits and support for veterans, when they return, with particular attention to our own local veterans made ill, homeless, or disabled by involvement in this war or the prior Iraqi invasion.
This Resolution to be sent to Congressman Sam Farr, Senators Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein and President George W. Bush.

How about "money for those who make the money"?

In other words, leave it in the hands of the working class. Stop taking it.

Stop taking it from us as welfare for Iraqis.

Stop taking it from us as welfare for Americans.

Just stop taking it. You want to stop the war machine? Stop taxing us, and the machine will grind to a halt.

Forget Iraq - liberate working-class America from the IRS!

the military doesn't need your taxes to finance their carnage..don't flatter yourself.

they put a few dollars into your pocket as a bribe. they'll go into debt, sell weapons to maniacs, whatever it takes.

I must have missed the the protest against the beheadings of innocent people by terrorists in Fallujah. When was it held?

"innocent people"

this term is an oxymoron.

Innocent people is an oxymoron? Tell that to the family of the Japanese backpacker.

THE CURSE IS AS FOLLOWS. READ IT CLEARLY. It is not intended for those who are misinformed by lies and propaganda. Nor is it for those who walk in genuine ignorance. RATHER IT IS INTENDED FOR THE WICKED MEN WHO KNOW FULL WELL WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND WHO ARE CONSCIOUSLY
RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CRIME....
FROM THE GLOBAL BANKING MACHINE TO U.S. POLITICIANS...DOWN TO THE U.S. MILITARY COMMANDERS AND SOLDIERS...... YOU WILL CRY OUT IN SORROW ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT WHEN YOU WILL SEE BEYOND YOUR GREED! YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BEAR THE BURDON OF YOUR SINS AGAINST THESE LITTLE ONES. EVEN NOW..YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND YOU DO NOT STOP. YOU WILL LIVE THE REST OF YOUR LIVES SEEKING TO DESTROY THE MEMORY OF WHAT YOU HAVE DONE... BUT YOU WILL NEVER FIND REST IN THIS LIFE. YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO SILENCE THE SCREAMING IN YOUR HEARTS.. and once you die..you will live in YOUR hell until you have re-lived theTERROR , the FEAR , and ALL of the SUFFERING which you have inflicted....through the eyes, minds, and hearts of every one of your victoms, including the suffering loss of the living.. who's loved ones have been maimed, or killed, and suffer every ramification of this MURDEROUS BEAST. MAY YOU LIVE THE PAIN OF EVERY BABY,CHILD, MAMA, PAPA, AND FAMILY WHO HUDDLE TOGETHER IN THEIR HOMES, FILLED WITH FEAR, SURROUNDED BY YOUR WICKED RAGE UNTIL DEATH FREES THEM . MAY YOU KNOW THIS FEAR AND AGONY.
THEN YOU WILL COWER ON YOUR KNEES AND BEG FOR MERCY...BUT YOU WILL FIND NONE...YOU WILL FIND NONE BECAUSE YOU SHOWED NONE. YOU WILL BE SERVED WHAT YOU HAVE GIVEN... AND WHAT YOU HAVE GIVEN IS TOO MUCH FOR YOU TO BEAR.. MAY YOU SUFFER THE MIRROR OF TRUTH UNTIL EVERY PENNY HAS BEEN PAYED. -AMEN

"THE CURSE IS AS FOLLOWS. READ IT CLEARLY. It is not intended for those who are misinformed by lies and propaganda. Nor is it for those who walk in genuine ignorance. RATHER IT IS INTENDED FOR THE WICKED MEN WHO KNOW FULL WELL WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND WHO ARE CONSCIOUSLY"

Contact Marvel comic books, they need another writer.

Your a christian, yes, I? You've heard of original sin, right? Well, in God's eyes we're all guilty, and must repent...

having been raised in Fallujah and having friends and family still there I can you that most of the towns population was forced to leave their town months ago by this group of thugs. they have been gathering in the out lying small towns and looting and stealing what they could carry before moving on. from all I have been told by those still in Iraq is that these fighters are mostly outsiders and have killed more Iraqis than Americans. if the Americans kill every last one of them I say good riddance.

"SB" is full of shit.

"having been raised in Fallujah....."

yeah right! you're an amerikkkan racist that has never left amerikkka.

Who cares about another protest at UCSC. No one listens - no one cares. You lost the election - face it. I agree - we should stop the bombing of Fallujah - lets just start over in the middle east by nuking the whole damn place. We could then send all the UCSC undergrads there to start a new socialist society in the middle of the desert where they belong.

Thanks for the truly intelligent and inspiring comments, "4 more years." You truly are an example to follow.

!