WHEREAS, the Chapel Hill Town Council cannot speak for all residents; but has been asked by many residents to speak out on thi

AGENDA #10

MEMORANDUM

TO: Town Council

FROM: Mayor Kevin Foy

SUBJECT: Resolution in Support of Exhausting All Diplomatic Efforts Before Invasion of Iraq

DATE: February 10, 2003

On January 13, the Council received a petition from a citizen (attached) requesting that the Council consider a resolution condemning the possible war with Iraq.

The Council agreed to defer discussion of this issue to the January 17 Planning Session. At that session, the Council discussed whether it should be involved in commenting on national issues, if a policy should be put into place to consider these types of petitions, and what, if any, position the Council should take on this type of issue.

The Council agreed by consensus to have a draft resolution prepared for its review and placed on the agenda for public comment. That draft resolution is attached.

ATTACHMENT

1. Petition of January 13, 2003 from Mr. Robin Helwig-Larson (p. 4).

A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF EXHAUSTING ALL DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS BEFORE INVASION OF IRAQ (2003-02-10/R-12)

WHEREAS, the United States is one nation among a community of nations and has agreed to certain conventions of international law including the United Nations Charter, which compels its members to “settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security and justice are not endangered,” and

WHEREAS, this Council, like all Americans, strongly believes that a central obligation of the federal government is to protect our national security. But we believe just as strongly that the specific steps taken to discharge that duty must be decided through a democratic process, which democratic process is what Americans strive to protect; and

WHEREAS, an attack on Iraq, if it is taken without exhausting all diplomatic avenues of resolution and without the support of allies in Europe and the Middle East, could further destabilize the volatile situation that now exists in the region, and inspire further terrorist attacks in the United States; and,

WHEREAS, the United States needs the moral and strategic support of the United Nations Security Council, the Arab States, and others to eradicate terrorism; and

WHEREAS, the United States Department of Defense has estimated that over 100,000 Iraqis and 269 Americans were killed in the 1991 Gulf War, and that there was also a significant financial cost. These financial and human costs are a testament to the gravity of another war in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, concern over a war in Iraq is a direct concern for local governments throughout this country, at least in part because a war would create serious negative impacts on the availability of adequate funds at the federal, state and local levels for services that could provide real security for our communities, including affordable housing, health care, and quality educational programs; and

WHEREAS, the cost of war will result in ballooning federal deficits that may further erode the already weakened economy; and

WHEREAS, the massive sums required for military engagement could be better spent addressing economic and environmental concerns of local communities throughout the United States; and

WHEREAS, a war with Iraq would put at risk the lives of Chapel Hill residents who serve or have family members and friends who serve in the United States Armed Forces;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council urges the Administration and our federal representatives to refrain from unilateral military action and to support the United Nations’ diplomatic efforts to insure Iraq’s full compliance with United Nations Resolution 1441, and to encourage democracy and respect for human rights in Iraq and all nations, and to obtain the cooperation of key allies in Europe and the Middle East, and to seek United Nations Security Council approval for military action under international law; and be it

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council requests that the Town Clerk send copies of this resolution to President George W. Bush, U.S. Senators John Edwards and Elizabeth Dole and U.S. Representative David Price.

This the 10^th day of February, 2003.