Council supports pullout from Iraq.Byline: Edward Russo The Register-Guard A divided Eugene City Council on Monday endorsed a resolution that calls for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq The withdrawal of American military forces from Iraq has been a contentious issue within the United States since the beginning of the Iraq War. As the war has progressed from its initial invasion phase to the more than four-year occupation, U.S. . Councilors voted 5-3 to support the resolution that urges Oregon's Congressional delegation to vote against further funding the war except for the money needed to "carry out a safe, rapid and orderly orderly /or·der·ly/ (or´der-le) an attendant in a hospital who works under the direction of a nurse. or·der·ly n. An attendant in a hospital. withdrawal" of U.S. troops, and money to help Iraqi forces stabilize stabilize See peg. the nation. Similar to previous resolutions on such topics as the USA Patriot Act USA PATRIOT Act [Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorists], 2001, U.S. and international treaties against torture torture, the intentional infliction of severe physical or mental pain or suffering in order to intimidate, coerce, obtain information or a confession, or punish. , the council debate centered on the appropriateness of local officials taking a position on a national or international matter. Councilors voted after hearing 10 residents speak in favor of upon the side of; favorable to; for the advantage of. See also: favor the Iraq resolution Not to be confused with Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists. "Iraq Resolution" and "Iraq War Resolution" are popular names for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002,[1] , including Sara Rich of Eugene, whose daughter served in Iraq. "Once you are mother of one soldier, you are a mother of all soldiers and you want to protect them," she said. The resolution is similar to one passed last November by the Portland City Council, and backed by Take Back America, a coalition of peace, environmental and other groups. The resolution's language has a greater focus on getting troops out of Iraq than a more generally worded, peace-oriented resolution passed last month by the Lane County Board of Commissioners, said Michael Carrigan of the Community Alliance of Lane County, which supports Take Back America. More than 200 cities have passed similar statements, Carrigan told the council. The resolution calls for the money that would be freed from ending the war to be used for education and health care for "vulnerable" Americans, full benefits for returning veterans and the development of "non-carbon producing alternative" energy. "We need to invest our human and financial resources in the future of our children, not in the death of Iraqi children," Carrigan said. Councilors Betty Taylor, Bonny Bonny (bŏn`ē), town, SE Nigeria, in the Niger River delta, on the Bight of Biafra. In the 18th and 19th cent., Bonny was the center of a powerful trading state, and in the 19th cent. it became the leading site for slave exportation in W Africa. Bettman, Andrea Ortiz, Chris Pryor and Alan Zelenka voted for the resolution. Councilors George Poling, Jennifer Solomon and Mike Clark voted against it. Poling, who said a relative had been killed in the war, added that he favors ending American involvement in Iraq. But he said he has heard from constituents who ask him, `Why are you taking the city's time with this when you can't fix the potholes?' Zelenka, however, said, "This is a local issue because when America goes to war we are all involved." Carrigan was expecting the resolution to pass, but he had hoped for an overwhelming vote. "If something passes unanimously or near unanimously, it sends an even more powerful message that the council wants the war to end and the troops to come home," he said. |
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