Portland City Council
Resolution on Possible War Against Iraq
(adopted by a vote of 8 to 1, on February 3, 2003)

WHEREAS, based on current information no proven linkage has been made between the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and the government of Iraq; and

WHEREAS, a war with Iraq will jeopardize the lives of American soldiers and risks killing many innocent Iraqi civilians, who have already suffered enormously under Saddam Hussein's rule and United Nations sanctions; and

WHEREAS, a war with Iraq would threaten to further destabilize the Middle East, possibly leading to a wider, regional war and increased support for Al Qaeda and other groups dedicated to terrorism, making the citizens of Portland and the rest of United States less, not more, secure; and

WHEREAS, there is an urgent need for genuine multilateral action to eliminate weapons of mass destruction world wide; and

WHEREAS, the international community supports United Nation's weapons inspections to achieve disarmament in Iraq and governments around the world are very concerned about United States military action without the support of the United Nations Security Council; and

WHEREAS, the state of Maine and the city of Portland are suffering from fiscal crises such that programs that benefit working people and the poor are being threatened by severe budget cuts. And it has been estimated that a war in Iraq would likely cost U.S. taxpayers over $100 billion (which would include $267 million from Maine taxpayers), an amount that could go a long way to meeting our health and education needs;

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the City Council of Portland:

HEREBY, opposes a preemptive invasion of Iraq by the United States without a clear showing of need and expresses strong support for a genuinely multilateral diplomatic approach to resolving the current conflict between the governments of the United States and Iraq and achieving the valid objective of disarming Saddam Hussein, sanctioned and directed by the United Nations.

RESOLVED, that whatever course of action our nation ultimately takes with regard to Iraq, we are sincerely grateful for the courage of our soldiers in the Middle East and the sacrifices they and their families have made and are making to defend the United States.

RESOLVED, that the Portland City Clerk shall forward copies of this resolution to President Bush, Senators Collins and Snowe and to Representatives Allen and Michaud.