WHEREAS, the people of South Bend, along with the larger population of these United States, have suffered grievous trauma resulting from the loss of life in the attacks of September 11, 2001; and
WHEREAS, the incessant calls for war issuing from the George Bush White House have served not to unite the peoples of the Earth in the cause against terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, but rather have served to alienate those peoples; and
WHEREAS, a visceral cry for revenge with regard to the September 11 attacks do nothing to bring those attackers any closer to justice under international law, nor does it address the larger questions connected to the implementation and administration of justice; and
WHEREAS, the Bush administration has not demonstrated any clear link between the Iraqi government and Osama bin Laden, nor any clear evidence of any participation by the Iraqi government in the attacks of September 11; and
WHEREAS, there has been no conclusive evidence presented by the Bush administration that Iraq actually presents a security threat to the United States; and
WHEREAS, pursuit of any unilateral military action against Iraq by the United States will further inflame tensions in the Middle East, possibly leading to a wider war in the region; and
WHEREAS, military action against Iraq will almost certainly result in death and injury to U.S. service personnel, including South Bend residents, as well as the deaths of many thousands of Iraqi civilians; and
WHEREAS, the current preparations for war may pose a significant threat to civil liberties in South Bend, and
WHEREAS, the cost of a pre-emptive strike against Iraq will divert funding away from very much needed health and educational programs in South Bend, Indiana, and around the world;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, hereby voices our opposition to any preemptive strike or act of war contemplated by the President and the Congress of the United States, and urges that no war against Iraq be undertaken at any time by the United States unless as a response to a direct military attack by Iraq; and
HEREBY, supports the women and men and their families who have been deployed by the government for service now and on their return; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF SOUTH BEND reaffirms the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the principles of international law; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the South Bend City Clerk shall forward copies of this resolution to President Bush, to Senators Evan Bayh and Richard Lugar, to Representative Chris Chocola and to all members of the Indiana U.S. Congressional delegation.