Iraq resolution

[YankeyMCC]

In a few weeks our town meeting opens up and there will be an article under consideration that is a resolution against the use of Mass National Guard in the Iraq war.

I read about the VT towns doing this or something similar but only now saw what one of these looks like. I'm not a town meeting member but I am running unopposed for a seat and expect to be a TMM when Town Meeting opens up in a few weeks.

Any other TMM's here or anyone else trying to get a similar warrant article in front of their town's meeting?

Here is the draft:

ARTICLE 69 RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF ARLINGTON CONCERNING THE MASSACHUSETTS

NATIONAL GUARD AND THE WAR IN IRAQ

WHEREAS: the Town and its citizens recognize the sacrifices that the men and women serving in the United States Armed Forces in Iraq are making.


WHEREAS: in October 2002 the United States Congress adopted a Joint Resolution to Authorize the use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq, relying on statements that were untrue, when in fact

*
the United States was not threatened with attack by Iraq,

*
Saddam Hussein had no weapons of mass destruction,

*
Saddam Hussein had no role in the 9/11 attacks.


WHEREAS: in going to war, the President did not meet the conditions imposed by Congress, failing to show Congress why he decided that diplomatic or peaceful means alone would not protect the national security of the United States or lead to enforcement of Security Council resolutions on Iraq, why he decided that going to war was a necessary action against Iraq on the theory – never proven – that Iraq authorized, committed, or aided in the 9/11 attacks.

WHEREAS: the war has resulted in serious and potentially long-lasting consequences for the United States and for the chances for a just and durable peace in Iraq and the Middle East;

WHEREAS: the United States Constitution provides that Congress shall have the power to "provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, to suppress insurrections and repel Invasions," and the Massachusetts Constitution provides that no armies be maintained without the consent of the State Legislature;


WHEREAS: at least since 1986, the President and the Congress have had nearly total control over state militias, including the Massachusetts National Guard;

WHEREAS: the costs of the call-up of Massachusetts National Guard members for deployment in Iraq has been significant, as reckoned in lost lives, combat injuries, psychic trauma, disruption of family life, financial hardship for individuals, families, and businesses, interruption of careers, and damage to the fabric of civic life in many Massachusetts communities;

WHEREAS: these are costs which would be suffered willingly were there a threat to our nation, but which are not tolerable where there is none;

WHEREAS: Massachusetts’ residents have joined the Guard thinking that they would be serving their neighbors by helping with Massachusetts-based emergencies, unless there was a danger to America requiring transfer to active duty;

WHEREAS: stop-loss orders violate the mutual understanding between Massachusetts’ residents in the Guard and the state and nation they agreed to serve;

WHEREAS: there is reason to believe that the federalization and deployment of Massachusetts National Guard members has rendered the remaining Guard force unable to carry out its state activities effectively; and

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that the Town requests the members of Massachusetts’ Congressional Delegation to urge Congress to restore the balance between the federal government and the states, limiting the nearly complete federal control over State National Guard units to cases where there is reasonable evidence that war powers are requested in order to protect against a threat to the territory of the United States, where there is an insurrection or a plausible threat of insurrection; or where there is a declaration of war under the United States Constitution;

RESOLVED, that the Town requests the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, exercising its powers under Article XVII of the First Part of the Massachusetts’ Constitution, to: investigate and discuss whether members of the Massachusetts’ National Guard have been called to active service and assigned to duties relating to the war in Iraq in conformity with the U.S. Constitution and federal laws, including the 2002 Congressional Resolution on Iraq; and create a commission or other body to collect statutory, historical, and statistical information about the role of the National Guard in serving the State of Massachusetts and to study the impact of the federalization and deployment of its members on the ability of the Guard to perform its mission in Massachusetts;

RESOLVED, that the President and the Congress take steps to withdraw American troops from Iraq, consistent with the mandate of international humanitarian law; and

RESOLVED, that the Town Clerk send a copy of this Resolution to each member of the Massachusetts’ Congressional Delegation, the Massachusetts Governor, the Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and the Adjutant General of the National Guard of Massachusetts.
(Inserted at the request of 10 registered voters)

[paineinthearse]

1. Yes, see

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=158x3411

That thread was started as a place for members to post their towns' articles.

[YankeyMCC]

2. Thank you

[paineinthearse]

3. No, thank YOU!!!

Come on, folks, there are 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts. I can't believe that only 2 will have anti-war articles on their warrants.