WHEREAS<\/b>, 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<\/p>\n
WHEREAS<\/b>, 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<\/p>\n
WHEREAS<\/b>, 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<\/p>\n
WHEREAS<\/b>, 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<\/p>\n
WHEREAS<\/b>, 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\u2019s involvement in Iraq \u201cis not likely to be a major driver of violence\u201d there, and<\/p>\n
WHEREAS<\/b>, 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<\/p>\n
WHEREAS<\/b>, 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<\/p>\n
WHEREAS<\/b>, 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<\/p>\n
WHEREAS<\/b>, 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<\/p>\n
WHEREAS<\/b>, 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\u2019s 50 wards an average of $104 million.<\/p>\n
WHEREAS<\/b>, 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,<\/p>\n
BE IT RESOLVED<\/b>, 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<\/p>\n
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED<\/b>, That suitable copies of the resolution be forwarded to President George W. Bush and all members of the Chicago Congressional delegation.<\/p>\n
JOSEPH A. MOORE
\n49th Ward <\/p>\n
ROBERT W. FIORETTI
\n2nd Ward<\/p>\n
TONI PRECKWINKLE
\n4th Ward <\/p>\n
FREDDRENNA M. LYLE
\n6th Ward<\/p>\n
SANDI JACKSON
\n7th Ward <\/p>\n
RICARDO MUNOZ
\n22nd Ward<\/p>\n
EUGENE C. SCHULTER
\n47th Ward <\/p>\n
MARY ANN SMITH
\n48th Ward<\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.nowaroniran-chicago.org\/resolution.htm<\/a><\/p>\n