RESOLUTION CITY OF SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA

WHEREAS, the current circumstances in Iraq present the citizens of the United States and our government with a sobering dilemma; and

WHEREAS, our nation, through its diplomatic corps and armed forces, historically has been called upon to defend people around the globe from tyranny in all its forms or to protect one or another fragile peace, and, without counting the cost, we have responded to that call; and

WHEREAS, there is no question in the international community about the danger Iraq's Saddam Hussein represents to his own people, the people of the Middle East and the people of the world; and

WHEREAS, the people of the United States and the nations of the world are engaged in an important debate about how best to resolve the threats posed by his regime and, then, to nurture among Iraq's diverse people the kind of representative and compassionate government to which all are entitled; and

WHEREAS, failure to achieve a diplomatic internationally-sanctioned solution will risk the horrific consequences of war: further destabilization of a troubled region of the world, fractured international alliances, future generations of hatred and mistrust and, most tragically, the inestimable loss of life; and

WHEREAS, city councils around the country, being the most approachable level of government, have been asked, despite our lack of access to crucial intelligence information, to reflect the fears and concerns of our communities;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Saint Paul encourages its citizens to exercise all the rights and responsibilities of citizenship by becoming fully informed about the issues in all their complexity and, then, providing thoughtful counsel to their elected representatives; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council calls upon the President and the Congress to continue to work with the United Nations to define an appropriate multi-lateral response to both the current crisis and the inevitable challenges that the process of nation re-building will present; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council joins with the National Council of Churches, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Union of American Hebrew Congregations in their prayers for peace and international reconciliation; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Council encourages the people of Saint Paul to act locally by conserving valuable energy resources, contributing to those charitable organizations that provide humanitarian aid and promote cross-cultural understanding, and supporting the families and loved ones of those amongst us who already have been called to active military service.