Proposed Resolution
Against a US War on Iraq

Preamble:

1) For there to be a just and peaceful world, it is essential that certain fundamental principles be upheld.

2) Paramount among those principles is that societies and the governments acting on their behalf should act to the fullest extent possible to honor and preserve the sanctity of life.

3) Also fundamental is the principle that war always results in the loss of innocent human lives and characteristically causes profound damage to ecosystems.

4) Also fundamental is the principle that governments should uphold the rule of law, and should act consistently with international law, and with agreements and accords between and among nations developed to maintain order, peace, and justice.

5) Further, it is a historical role of institutions of higher education to serve as places of free and open intellectual exploration, to provide a venue for discussion of topics of public debate.

6) These principles are of utmost relevance to Wellesley College, which profoundly values openness of thought, the stimulation of inquiry, and the centrality of intellectual deliberation in deciding the course of human affairs, and which prides itself on its responsibility to contribute to the well-being of society.

7) These principles are therefore also of utmost relevance to us as members of Wellesley College, and bear directly on our responsibility to share in the governance of that institution.

8) When a majority of us agrees that the past and proposed actions of the US government, in its push towards waging war against Iraq, pose serious and grave threats to the preceding fundamental principles and to the well-being of society,

9) And when the silence of individuals and institutions will be construed as approval of these government actions,

10) And when our collective voice may contribute to respect for and adherence to the preceding fundamental principles,

11) Then it becomes our responsibility to contribute to the public dialogue by actively speaking our views.

From this basis, we conclude that

12) Whereas The United States (US) government has made clear preparation to take military action against Iraq;

13) Whereas Iraq has not been known through disclosed documents to have committed aggression against the US or other countries which might justify a response of war;

14) Whereas The US government has presented no credible evidence that Iraq has intentions of harming the citizens of this country or that Iraq presents a threat to the US;

15) Whereas The United Nations (UN) Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1441 enforcing the return of weapons inspectors to Iraq where it asserts that the Security Council alone has the authority to determine what action to take regarding current or future Iraqi violations of their resolutions (Article 14);

16) Whereas The UN Charter declares unequivocally in Articles 41 and 42 that the UN Security Council alone has the power to authorize the use of military force against any nation in noncompliance of its resolutions;

17) Whereas A pre-emptive war waged by the US government without UN authorization would be contrary to the above-mentioned fundamental principles;

18) Whereas The vast majority of the international community has not lent its support for war against Iraq;

19) Whereas Diplomatic solutions do not appear to have been exhausted, and therefore the fundamental intellectual responsibility of the US leadership to provide justification of war by showing proof that all other means have failed has not been satisfied;

20) Whereas Through such a war faculty, staff and students will have their careers, work, and educations interrupted and lives put in jeopardy;

21) Whereas Through such a war innocent Iraqi civilians, who have suffered enormously under the rule of Saddam Hussein and the effects of UN sanctions, will be injured and killed;

22) Whereas The high cost of this war may further deepen the US economic crisis, which continues to damage Wellesley College as well;

23) Whereas Starting a war with Iraq could spur a backlash against the Arab-American and Muslim community of the College and nation, as was experienced following September 11 and the Gulf War;

24) Whereas A war with Iraq could result in the US government's further justification of revoking civil liberties of citizens, naturalized citizens, and residents;

25) Whereas A war with Iraq would threaten to further destabilize the Middle East, possibly leading to wider regional war and increased support for groups dedicated to terrorism, endangering the citizens of the US as well as our own community as they perform their work both within and outside the US;

26) Be it further resolved the Wellesley College SG disagrees with the Bush Administration's 1) disregard for widespread international opposition to a preemptive, unilateral war against Iraq and 2) failure to to exhaust all peaceful diplomatic alternatives; both of which have ultimately led to the unilateral strike on Iraq that began on March 19, 2003.

27) Be it further resolved That the Academic Council of Wellesley College will seek to promote dialogue and educational events around the war, and create and distribute literature pertaining to the war on Iraq and the related issues.

28) Be it further resolved that this resolution will be sent to the elected representatives of this city, county and state, as well as the President of the United States.