City Council Resolution Against the War
Santa Barbara
RESOLUTION NO. 02-129

A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA BARBARA OPPOSING UNILATERAL PREEMPTIVE MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ BY THE UNITED STATES

WHEREAS, the United States is part of the family of nations and a charter member of the United Nations, subscribing to its principles, including Article 2(4), which states that "All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state" except in self-defense, responding to an armed attack, under Article 51; and

WHEREAS, the government of Iraq has agreed to the unconditional return of international weapons inspectors to determine Iraq's compliance with United Nations Security Council resolutions concerning the development and possession of weapons of mass destruction by Iraq; and

WHEREAS, an invasion threatening the survival of Saddam Hussein, the "regime change" demanded, might well force him (Mr. Hussein) to preemptively defend himself by using weapons of mass destruction on United States and allied forces and/or Iraq's neighbors including Israel; and

WHEREAS, an international consensus does not currently exist in support of United States military action, with most of the world's nations opposing unilateral preemptive military action by the United States; and

WHEREAS, the citizens of Santa Barbara and their local elected officials have the constitutional right, indeed duty, to petition the national government on this matter of grave concern to our community as part of the national and international debate now underway; and

WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Santa Barbara cannot speak for all residents but has been asked by many people to speak out on this momentous issue facing our nation.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA BARBARA:

1. Believes that it is in the best interests of our country, and for peace among the nations of the world, for the United States to act in concert with the United Nations and not unilaterally, to bring about Iraq's compliance to disarmament of any weapons of mass destruction; and

2. Reaffirms the articles of the United Nations Charter and the principles of international law on the peaceful resolution of disputes; and

3. Expresses our opposition to the United States threatened violation of the United Nations Charter by unilateral, preemptive military action against the sovereign nation of Iraq, and to the dangerous precedent such action would establish; and

4. Urges the President and Congress to work with and through the United Nations to obtain compliance by Iraq with United Nations Security Council resolutions, and to support fully the return of international weapons inspectors to Iraq for the purpose of immediate disarmament; and

5. Asserts that war should be only the last resort, after exhausting all diplomatic and political means, and that war is not to be undertaken unilaterally or preemptively by the United States or any other country.