A Resolution Opposing War on Iran

Members of the Chicago City Council have
introduced a resolution opposing a U.S. attack upon Iran. This vitally
important resolution needs to be emulated throughout the country, in
cities and towns large and small. About 400 cities have passed resolutions
against the war on Iraq and the Patriot Act, and measures such as this
can be an important part of creating a climate in which the crimes of
the Bush Regime are no longer tolerated.

See it all athttp://nowaroniran-chicago.org/resolution.htm

A RESOLUTION OPPOSING WAR ON
IRAN

.

WHEREAS, The Bush Administration
and its Congressional allies are engaging in a systematic campaign to
convince the American people that the Islamic Republic of Iran poses
an imminent threat to the American nation, American troops in the Middle
East and U.S. allies, and 
 
WHEREAS, This campaign bears a strong resemblance to that waged
during the lead-up to the Iraq War and occupation, with the use of unreliable
sources, exaggerated threat assessments, the selective use of information,
unsubstantiated accusations about Iran’s nuclear program and its supply
of weapons to Iraqi forces as centerpieces of their case to the American
people for aggressive action against Iran, and

WHEREAS, Iran has not
threatened to attack the United States, and no compelling evidence has
been presented that Iran poses a real and imminent threat to the security
and safety of the United States that would justify an unprovoked unilateral
pre-emptive military attack; and

WHEREAS, We support
the people of Iran who are struggling for freedom and democracy, and
nothing herein should be construed as supportive of their government,
the Islamic Republic of Iran, but a unilateral, pre-emptive U.S. military
attack on Iran could well prove counterproductive to the cause of promoting
freedom and democracy in that country; and 
 
WHEREAS, A 2007 National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), representing
the consensus view all 16 U.S. intelligence agencies, concluded that
Iran froze its nuclear weapons program in 2003, and an earlier NIE concluded
that Iran’s involvement in Iraq “is not likely to be a major driver
of violence” there, and

WHEREAS, An attack on
Iran is likely to cause untold thousands of American and Iranian casualties,
lead to major economic dislocations, and threaten a much wider and more
disastrous war in the Middle East, and

WHEREAS, a pre-emptive
U.S. military attack on Iran would violate international law and our
commitments under the U.N. Charter and further isolate the U.S. from
the rest of the world; and

WHEREAS, An attack on
Iran is likely to inflame hatred for the U.S. in the Middle East and
elsewhere, inspire terrorism, and lessen the security of Americans in
Chicago and worldwide, and 
 
WHEREAS, The Iraq war and occupation has already cost the lives
of over 4,000 American soldiers, the maiming and wounding of over 38,000
American soldiers, the death and maiming of over one million Iraqi civilians,
and 
 
WHEREAS, According to the nonpartisan National Priorities Project,
the Iraq War and occupation has cost American taxpayers more than $500
billion, the citizens of Chicago nearly $5.2 billion, and the citizens
of each of Chicago’s 50 wards an average of $104 million. 
 
WHEREAS, Any conflict with Iran is likely to incur far greater
costs and divert more precious national resources away from critical
human needs in Chicago and its 50 wards, now therefore,  
 
BE IT RESOLVED, That the City Council of the City of Chicago
does hereby urge the Illinois Congressional delegation to clearly express
the will of the people of Chicago in opposing any U.S. attack on Iran,
and urging the Bush Administration to pursue diplomatic engagement with
that nation, and 
  
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That suitable copies of the resolution
be forwarded to President George W. Bush and all members of the Chicago
Congressional delegation.

For Immediate Release May
16, 2008 
Contact: Michael Lynn – mlynn226 AT gmail [dot] com or 773-860-6969

Coalition Moves
Ahead on Iran Resolution

At Wednesday’s meeting of
the Chicago City Council, Mayor Daley prevented a vote on a resolution opposing an aggressive
U.S. attack on Iran. The resolution, which cleared the Human
Relations Committee
on Tuesday, was expected by its sponsor, Alderman Joe Moore, to pass
in the full City Council. Instead, two allies of the mayor employed
a parliamentary maneuver to table the resolution.

The Chicago City Council has
already passed a resolution opposing the Iraq War. The No War on Iran
Coalition, which initiated the Iran Resolution, is disappointed that
the Mayor aligned himself with the Bush/Cheney foreign policy threatening
a wider war in the Middle East.

“It’s disappointing
that Mayor Daley used Chicago politics-as- usual to prevent a Council
vote on a matter of urgent concern, another imminent war,” said Michael Lynn, a member of the Coalition.

The No War on Iran Coalition
continues to work for passage of the resolution both at City Hall and
by raising public awareness of the danger of an attack on Iran.

“This turn of events has
energized our Coalition,” said member Lina Thorne. 

athttp://nowaroniran-chicago.org/resolution.htm