From Richmond
Mar. 11th, 2003 11:03 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rfmcdonaldVery interesting. Tom?
From the Richmond Times-Transcript:
"Mayor asking for vote on Iraq"
BY JEREMY REDMON
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Mar 11, 2003
Richmond Mayor Rudolph C. McCollum Jr. says President Bush has not made a convincing case for a war in Iraq. He is asking the City Council to take a stand on the issue.
"I definitely believe there is a time for war, but I don't believe we have necessarily gotten to that point," the mayor said.
McCollum introduced a resolution last night that says such a war may threaten the stability of the Middle East and likely increase al-Qaida terrorist threats to the United States.
"Most cities and states are suffering fiscal crises where programs that benefit working people and the poor are being threatened by severe budget cuts," the resolution says, "and it has been estimated that a war in Iraq would likely cost the U.S. government over $100 billion, an amount that could go a long way to meeting our health and education needs."
McCollum said Bush has not presented proof Iraq poses an imminent threat to America's security. He wants the president to report to Richmonders with an estimate for the cost of waging such a war and then rebuilding Iraq. Additionally, the mayor wants to know where America will get the money.
He also poses these questions: What is the U.S. plan for stabilizing Iraq in the wake of a war? And what will the United States do to protect its soldiers and allies as well as Iraqi civilians?
McCollum said he believes the United States should get support from the United Nations Security Council before attacking Iraq. The mayor's resolution comes as the United States and Britain face the threat of a veto from France, which has declared its opposition to any resolution that would lead to war.
The mayor plans to call for a vote on his resolution during the City Council's March 24 meeting. If it passes, the city would send the resolution to Virginia's two U.S. senators and all of its House representatives as well as to Bush.
The mayor expressed concern the country could go to war before the council votes on the resolution. The United States and Britain had sought March 17 as the deadline for Iraq to disarm or face military action, but a vote expected today on the proposal in the U.N. Security Council has been delayed.
Governing bodies in more than 130 cities and counties across America have passed resolutions opposing a pre-emptive strike against Iraq, according to a Web page for Cities for Peace, a coalition of residents and elected officials that oppose a war. Those cities include Atlanta, Los Angeles, Baltimore and Chicago.
In Virginia, the Charlottesville City Council voted 4-1 on Feb. 3, passing a resolution against a unilateral war with Iraq "unless it is demonstrated that Iraq poses a real and imminent threat to the security and safety of the United States."
During a break between meetings last night, Richmond City Council members informally debated the mayor's proposed resolution. Some clearly oppose the resolution, while others favor it.
"Our nation is under attack. We cannot second-guess the motives of our national leaders," Councilman Bill Johnson, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam era, said during an interview last night.
Johnson plans to abstain or vote against the resolution.
"If there is to be a call against the war, it should come from the citizens of Richmond, not the government of Richmond," he said.
Councilman G. Manoli Loupassi is also critical of the mayor's idea.
"We should spend our time discussing things within our control and expertise, such as the tax rate, and not waste our time with things beyond our control," he said.
Vice Mayor Delores L. McQuinn and Councilwoman Gwen C. Hedgepeth say they will support the mayor's resolution.
"We don't need to just rush to war and put the children's lives on the line," McQuinn said. "We don't know the potential pain this war will cost this country."
Council member Bill Pantele said he is undecided about the issue. Councilwoman J.M. "Jackie" Jackson declined to comment, saying she had not yet read the resolution. Council members Sa'ad El-Amin and Joseph E. Brooks were absent last night.
In other action last night, the council:
From the Richmond Times-Transcript:
"Mayor asking for vote on Iraq"
BY JEREMY REDMON
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Mar 11, 2003
Richmond Mayor Rudolph C. McCollum Jr. says President Bush has not made a convincing case for a war in Iraq. He is asking the City Council to take a stand on the issue.
"I definitely believe there is a time for war, but I don't believe we have necessarily gotten to that point," the mayor said.
McCollum introduced a resolution last night that says such a war may threaten the stability of the Middle East and likely increase al-Qaida terrorist threats to the United States.
"Most cities and states are suffering fiscal crises where programs that benefit working people and the poor are being threatened by severe budget cuts," the resolution says, "and it has been estimated that a war in Iraq would likely cost the U.S. government over $100 billion, an amount that could go a long way to meeting our health and education needs."
McCollum said Bush has not presented proof Iraq poses an imminent threat to America's security. He wants the president to report to Richmonders with an estimate for the cost of waging such a war and then rebuilding Iraq. Additionally, the mayor wants to know where America will get the money.
He also poses these questions: What is the U.S. plan for stabilizing Iraq in the wake of a war? And what will the United States do to protect its soldiers and allies as well as Iraqi civilians?
McCollum said he believes the United States should get support from the United Nations Security Council before attacking Iraq. The mayor's resolution comes as the United States and Britain face the threat of a veto from France, which has declared its opposition to any resolution that would lead to war.
The mayor plans to call for a vote on his resolution during the City Council's March 24 meeting. If it passes, the city would send the resolution to Virginia's two U.S. senators and all of its House representatives as well as to Bush.
The mayor expressed concern the country could go to war before the council votes on the resolution. The United States and Britain had sought March 17 as the deadline for Iraq to disarm or face military action, but a vote expected today on the proposal in the U.N. Security Council has been delayed.
Governing bodies in more than 130 cities and counties across America have passed resolutions opposing a pre-emptive strike against Iraq, according to a Web page for Cities for Peace, a coalition of residents and elected officials that oppose a war. Those cities include Atlanta, Los Angeles, Baltimore and Chicago.
In Virginia, the Charlottesville City Council voted 4-1 on Feb. 3, passing a resolution against a unilateral war with Iraq "unless it is demonstrated that Iraq poses a real and imminent threat to the security and safety of the United States."
During a break between meetings last night, Richmond City Council members informally debated the mayor's proposed resolution. Some clearly oppose the resolution, while others favor it.
"Our nation is under attack. We cannot second-guess the motives of our national leaders," Councilman Bill Johnson, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam era, said during an interview last night.
Johnson plans to abstain or vote against the resolution.
"If there is to be a call against the war, it should come from the citizens of Richmond, not the government of Richmond," he said.
Councilman G. Manoli Loupassi is also critical of the mayor's idea.
"We should spend our time discussing things within our control and expertise, such as the tax rate, and not waste our time with things beyond our control," he said.
Vice Mayor Delores L. McQuinn and Councilwoman Gwen C. Hedgepeth say they will support the mayor's resolution.
"We don't need to just rush to war and put the children's lives on the line," McQuinn said. "We don't know the potential pain this war will cost this country."
Council member Bill Pantele said he is undecided about the issue. Councilwoman J.M. "Jackie" Jackson declined to comment, saying she had not yet read the resolution. Council members Sa'ad El-Amin and Joseph E. Brooks were absent last night.
In other action last night, the council:
- Approved a special-use permit for a developer to build 83 town-house condominiums in Oregon Hill.
- Met with Industrial Development Authority officials about the status of state-mandated audits for their fiscal year 2001 and 2002 financial records. The IDA has fallen behind in those reports. But the mayor appeared satisfied the IDA is making progress.
- Received a proposed resolution from Loupassi that directs City Manager Calvin D. Jamison to submit a budget for next fiscal year that does not increase by more than the rate of inflation, or 2.3 percent. Loupassi said he introduced the proposal last night after hearing from numerous constituents about high real-estate reassessments.
The proposed resolution
"Whereas, the greatest threats to the United States of America's ("U.S.") security today are the terrorist cells of Al Qaeda, which would likely grow as a result of a preemptive U.S. strike against Iraq; 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 the United Nations weapons inspections to achieve disarmament in Iraq, but governments around the world still oppose U.S. military action without the express consent of the United Nations Security Council; and
Whereas, a U.S. military attack on Iraq may threaten the stability of the Middle East region,
Whereas, most cities and states are suffering fiscal crises where 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 the U.S. government over $100 billion, an amount that could go a long way to meeting our health and education needs.
Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the council of the City of Richmond:
That the council requests a full report to the citizens of City of the Richmond before any U.S. military actions against Iraq are undertaken, outlining the following:
(A) Proof of an imminent threat from Iraq to the national security of the U.S.;
(B) An analysis of the impact on the U.S. domestic economy of the use of resources for military action and reconstruction of Iraq along with a proposal for how the United States can pay for these costs;
(C) A comprehensive plan for U.S. financial and political commitment to long-term cultural, economic, and political stabilization in a free Iraq;
(D) A comprehensive statement that details what effects military action against Iraq will mean for the broader war on terrorism, including, but not limited to, that of support from our allies in the Middle East; and
(E) A commitment that the United States will take necessary efforts to protect the health, safety and security of U.S. armed forces, the Iraqi people and existing infrastructure, and safety for all the United States' allies and interests in the region.
Be it further resolved by the council of the City of Richmond:
That the office of the City Clerk shall forward copies of this resolution to President George Bush, Senator John Warner, Senator George Allen and all members of the City of Richmond's U.S. Congressional delegation.
</lj-cu
