WHEREAS:
AFSCME honors our men and women in uniform, and recognizes the heroism of their sacrifices; and

WHEREAS: 
Opposition to the war in no way implies criticism of the men and women fighting in Iraq; and

WHEREAS:
Both AFSCME and the AFL-CIO have adopted statements saying our troops should be brought home as soon as possible; and

WHEREAS:
The decision to go to war was based on false claims about Iraq’s possession of weapons of mass destruction and their imminent threat to the United States, and Iraq’s links to Al-Qaeda; and

WHEREAS:
Almost 3,200 service members have been killed and almost 24,000 have been wounded in action; and

WHEREAS:
Those serving in Iraq are disproportionately working class, including many union members; and

WHEREAS:
The war has already cost almost $300 billion, money that is desperately needed for poor and working Americans; and

WHEREAS:
Our troops have accomplished the mission of removing Saddam Hussein from power; and

WHEREAS:
An open-ended U.S. military presence in Iraq offers no assurance of improving the security of the United States; and
 
WHEREAS:
The military invasion and continued occupation of Iraq has actually increased the level of international terrorism and made the U.S. and the world less, not more safe and secure; and

WHEREAS:
The post-war U.S. occupation has provided a profit bonanza for U.S. and other multinational corporations awarded no-bid contracts for work in Iraq, while providing to the Iraqi people little or none of the promised reconstruction, restoration of electric power, water and sanitation; and

WHEREAS:
The majority of American people and more and more elected officials now believe that the decision to go to war was wrong and support a timetable to bring our troops home as soon as possible.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME expresses its profound gratitude and admiration for the men and women in uniform, who deserve better than to be sent to fight in a misguided and avoidable war; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: 
That AFSCME urges the Bush administration to stop cutting veterans’ benefits; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: 
That a timetable for the quickest possible withdrawal of U.S. troops, consistent with their safety, be adopted; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That the best way to support our troops is to bring them home now.
 
 
SUBMITTED BY: Joel Schwartz, President and Delegate
 CSEA Local 446/AFSCME Local 1000
 New York

 Cluade Fort, President and Delegate
 AFSCME Local 375, Council 37
 New York