Progress Ohio | Columbus Peace Resolution

Support the Columbus Peace Resolution

Columbus City Council can't vote directly to bring the troops home. But Council CAN pass resolutions on a wide range of issues, including federal decisions that affect Columbus taxpayers.

Our city's share of Iraq War spending approved to date is $1.1 billion -- money that could have provided:

643,219 children with health care for one year
1.2 million homes with renewable electricity for one year
24,220 public safety officers for one year
9,976 affordable housing units
17,046 elementary school teachers for one year

By passing a Peace Resolution built on widespread public support, we will send the message that Columbus stands with over 200 other cities across the country in the call for change.

Citizens, community leaders, and elected officials agree:

INVEST IN COLUMBUS, NOT WAR IN IRAQ.

Adding Columbus to the growing list of cities that have passed peace resolutions is one small step in a multi-strategy effort to end the war, bring the troops home, and invest needed resources in our community. But it's an important one, and it will only happen with help from people like you.

As resident/citizens of Columbus, Ohio we implore the Columbus City Council to pass a Peace Resolution in opposition to the ongoing investment of Columbus tax dollars in the Iraq War and the impact of the war on our community.
Our city's share in the cost of the war now stands at over $1.1 billion dollars, and this has had a profound impact on daily life in the City of Columbus.
We urge our local elected leaders to stand with us. INVEST IN COLUMBUS, NOT WAR IN IRAQ.

Scroll down to view the full text of the Peace Resolution as it currently stands.

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The Resolution:

WHEREAS, the Columbus City Council supports the brave men and women deployed in Iraq, honors the memory of those who have lost their lives in the war and the families who have lost their loved one; and

WHEREAS, The American troops have valiantly upheld their duty in Iraq under dire circumstances; and

WHEREAS, America’s involvement in Iraq has resulted in the deaths of more than 4,050 U.S. soldiers, including over 165 soldiers from Ohio, and the wounding and disabling of more than 28,750 U.S. military personnel, including 1,223 from Ohio to date; and

WHEREAS, Our endless involvement in Iraq will further extend National Guard tours in Iraq, that the costs to the states of the call-up of National Guard members for deployment have been significant, as reckoned in lost lives, combat injuries and 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 our communities; and

WHEREAS, More than $522.5 billion has been appropriated by Congress to fund military operations and reconstruction in Iraq to date, money that could fund desperately needed education, health care, housing, nutrition and other social services in our communities in the United States or humanitarian assistance abroad; and

WHEREAS, the City of Columbus and Franklin County have combined appropriated over $1 billion dollars toward costs associated with the war in Iraq. And further that the cost to Ohioans has exceeded $18 billion dollars, cost $1,600 per resident; and

WHEREAS, the funds spent by Columbus taxpayers on the war and occupation in Iraq could have provided Head Start for one year for 166,529 Columbus children; or medical insurance for one year for 643,219 Columbus children; or 9.976 additional affordable housing units in Columbus; or 24,220 public safety officers, according to the National Priorities Project; and

WHEREAS, Previous budgets that have prioritized Iraq have led to cuts in critical block grants for states and have increased the federal debt, which compounded by interest payments, will likely lead to even larger cuts in funding for critical needs in the States: and

WHEREAS, Polls show that the vast majority of Americans do not support an open-ended engagement in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, Legal experts on all sides have determined that Congress has not only broad authority, but a long tradition of limiting escalation or forcing redeployment of troops through the Constitutionally-designate power of the purse.

Be IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Columbus urges the United States government to commence a responsible and orderly withdrawal of United States military personnel from Iraq as expeditiously as possible, and to provide the people of Iraq with the necessary aid to secure their citizens to rebuild Iraq;

Be It Further Resolved, That a suitable copy of this resolution shall be sent to George W. Bush, President of the United States, to the Congressional delegation of Ohio, and to the United States Congress.

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