Senate Resolution 12 PAG LIN 1 1 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. ____ 1 2 BY HOLVECK, BOLKCOM, CONNOLLY, DVORSKY, HORN, 1 3 HATCH, and SENG 1 4 A Resolution regarding preemptive, unilateral military 1 5 action against Iraq. 1 6 WHEREAS, there is an urgent need for genuine, 1 7 multilateral action to eliminate weapons of mass 1 8 destruction worldwide; and 1 9 WHEREAS, a preemptive, unilateral strike by the 1 10 United States against a sovereign nation without a 1 11 direct threat to the national security of the United 1 12 States violates a basic principle of American foreign 1 13 policy enunciated in George Washington's farewell 1 14 address and historically adhered to by our nation; and 1 15 WHEREAS, most other governments in the 1 16 international community oppose preemptive, unilateral 1 17 action against Iraq and support the full pursuit of 1 18 diplomatic resolutions and weapons inspections before 1 19 any further military action is taken against Iraq; and 1 20 WHEREAS, a preemptive, unilateral military strike 1 21 by the United States against Iraq will undermine 1 22 efforts to bring to justice those who helped carry out 1 23 the attacks of September 11, 2001, and hinder efforts 1 24 to reduce acts of international terror; and 1 25 WHEREAS, a preemptive attack against Iraq will set 1 26 a dangerous precedent which other countries may 1 27 follow; and 1 28 WHEREAS, a United States military attack on Iraq 1 29 threatens the stability of the Middle East region; and 1 30 WHEREAS, conflict in the area may result in the 2 1 widespread destruction of the environment and the 2 2 civilian infrastructure of Iraq; and 2 3 WHEREAS, war in Iraq will likely be a humanitarian 2 4 disaster, jeopardizing the lives of American soldiers, 2 5 potentially exposing American soldiers to biological 2 6 and chemical forms of warfare almost too horrible to 2 7 imagine, and resulting in the killing of many innocent 2 8 Iraqi civilians who have already suffered enormously 2 9 under Saddam Hussein's rule and sanctions of the 2 10 United Nations; and 2 11 WHEREAS, military action will likely result in a 2 12 long=term United States military presence in Iraq with 2 13 no guarantee that the next regime in Iraq will achieve 2 14 a better record on democracy, human rights, and 2 15 disarmament issues, or in maintaining peaceful 2 16 relations with its neighbors; and 2 17 WHEREAS, it has been estimated that a war with Iraq 2 18 would likely cost between $100 billion and $1 trillion 2 19 and the American occupation of Iraq would cost another 2 20 $15 to $20 billion per year; and 2 21 WHEREAS, unlike the 1991 war with Iraq, a 2 22 preemptive, unilateral strike against Iraq will result 2 23 in the United States bearing most of the financial 2 24 cost of the war; and 2 25 WHEREAS, the costs of a war with Iraq will cause 2 26 further federal budget deficits, further weakening of 2 27 an already sluggish economy, and further undermining 2 28 of the long=term prospects for solvency of the Social 2 29 Security and Medicare systems, and will ensure 2 30 reductions in federal aid to the State of Iowa; and 3 1 WHEREAS, such reductions in state aid at the 3 2 federal level would hinder the likelihood of 3 3 increasing reimbursement rates for Medicare and 3 4 Medicaid and make financial assistance to seniors for 3 5 prescription drugs even less likely; and 3 6 WHEREAS, the State of Iowa is already suffering 3 7 from a financial crisis, which has severely impacted 3 8 many of the programs that assist working people and 3 9 families; NOW THEREFORE, 3 10 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the Iowa Senate 3 11 supports the efforts of American troops to protect and 3 12 defend the nation against those who seek to harm it, 3 13 but, out of concern for the safety of those who would 3 14 risk their lives, respectfully urges and requests the 3 15 President of the United States not to initiate a 3 16 preemptive, unilateral military strike against Iraq; 3 17 and 3 18 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Iowa Senate 3 19 respectfully urges that if the United States does take 3 20 military action against the sovereign nation of Iraq 3 21 that it only be done with the official approval of the 3 22 United Nations Security Council as required under 3 23 international law; and 3 24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That suitable copies of 3 25 this resolution, duly authenticated by the Iowa 3 26 Secretary of the Senate, be transmitted to the 3 27 Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United 3 28 States, to each member of the Iowa congressional 3 29 delegation, and to the Governor of the State of Iowa. 3 30 LSB 1562XS 80 4 1 lh/pj/5.2