[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 25, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E570]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   COMMENDING THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL'S EFFORTS AT SUPPORTING PEACE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 25, 2003

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, as we begin an unjust invasion of Iraq, I 
think that it is appropriate that this chamber hears from citizens and 
leaders on the local level, and not just the representatives of the 
Administration.
  Last week, on March 12, 2003, the New York City Council courageously 
passed resolution 549-A, condemning current plans for an invasion of 
Iraq. They did so representing their constituents, who have made it 
abundantly clear through letters, faxes, emails and public protests, 
that the costs are too great and the evidence too suspect to support an 
invasion. The resolution represents the voice of the people of our 
great city.
  I applaud the majority of the members of the Council for their 
principled fight for peace and diplomacy. I commend them for resisting 
the tempting safety of silence and risk being unfairly labeled and 
misunderstood as ``unpatriotic.''
  We live in a time where no one wants to challenge our foreign policy 
decisions for fear of being perceived not supportive of freedom or of 
our brave men and women who poised for the invasion of Iraq. However, 
when history records where elected leaders were at the time that this 
fateful decision between war and international cooperation was made, it 
will be clear that it was the City Council of New York who stood 
strongly as voices for peace.
  I invite you to read excerpts of their resolution, so that it can be 
clear why the elected representatives of the citizens of the City of 
New York, still recovering from the attack of September 11, believe 
that real peace and democracy should be secured by law, not force.

   New York City Council Resolution Urging Military Restraint in Iraq

       Resolution calling on the government of the United States 
     to make all efforts to work through the United Nations 
     Security Council in a manner that would reaffirm our Nation's 
     commitment to the rule of law and the primacy of human rights 
     in our international relationships, and to take all 
     appropriate steps toward securing the participation of other 
     nations and international bodies in the effort to ensure that 
     Iraq does not possess biological, chemical or nuclear weapons 
     and toward promoting human rights for all the people of Iraq; 
     and further calling on the government of the United States to 
     work through the United Nations Security Council and with 
     other nations to ensure the unimpeded access of United 
     Nations weapons inspectors to all areas of and facilities in 
     Iraq and to ensure that the inspectors be given a full and 
     fair opportunity to conduct their efforts in accordance with 
     United Nations Security Council resolutions; and further 
     calling upon the Council of the City of New York to oppose a 
     pre-emptive military attack on Iraq unless it is demonstrated 
     that Iraq poses a real and imminent threat to the security 
     and safety of the United States or its allies or unless other 
     options for achieving compliance with United Nations 
     resolutions calling for the elimination of weapons of mass 
     destruction and the means for their development have failed.
       By Council Members Perkins, Baez, Barron, Boyland, Brewer, 
     Clarke, Comrie, Davis, DeBlasio, Dilan, Espada, Foster, 
     Gerson, Gioia, Gonzalez, Jackson, Koppell, Liu, Lopez, 
     Martinez, the Speaker (Council Member Miller), Monserrate, 
     Moskowitz, Quinn, Reed, Reyna, Sanders, Seabrook, Serrano, 
     Stewart, Vann and Yassky.
       Whereas, The manner in which the United States government 
     is responding to the crisis involving Iraq has caused great 
     concern among many New Yorkers, resulting in one of the 
     largest public demonstrations in the history of the City of 
     New York on February 15, 2003; and
       Whereas, The Council of the City of New York is the locally 
     elected voice of the people of the City of New York; and
       Whereas, Saddam Hussein has violated United Nations 
     resolutions requiring his government to destroy biological, 
     chemical and nuclear weapons, cease the development of such 
     weapons and permit international inspection of all areas and 
     facilities to ensure compliance with such resolutions; and
       Whereas, Although international weapons inspections barred 
     by Iraq in 1998 have been reinstituted in response to 
     international pressure, particularly from the United States, 
     there is evidence that despite some cooperation, Iraq is not 
     fully complying with United Nations resolutions; and
       Whereas, It is imperative that Iraq not be allowed to 
     possess, use or export biological, chemical or nuclear 
     weapons, or weapons of terror, and that Iraq fully comply 
     with United Nations resolutions; and
       Whereas, Since taking power in 1979, Saddam Hussein's 
     regime has committed human rights violations against the 
     Iraqi people on a massive scale--documented by Amnesty 
     International, Human Rights Watch and others--and we condemn 
     these crimes and the ongoing oppression of the Iraqi people, 
     including the Kurdish, Shiite and the other minority groups; 
     and
       Whereas, It is in the interest of all nations, including 
     the United States, that threats to world peace and violations 
     of human rights be dealt with in accordance with 
     international law and, whenever possible, on a multilateral 
     basis; and
       Whereas, A pre-emptive United States military attack on 
     Iraq, absent a real and imminent threat to the security and 
     safety of the United States or its allies and absent the 
     support of the international community would violate our 
     commitments to the United Nations charter; and
       Whereas, War has grave repercussions in terms of loss of 
     life; and
       Whereas, While it is difficult to project the financial 
     costs of war, a thorough analysis published by the National 
     Bureau of Economic Research estimates that the total cost of 
     invasion, occupation, peace-keeping, reconstruction, nation-
     building and necessary humanitarian assistance might range 
     from $150 to $750 billion;
       Whereas, Such cost would place an enormous strain on our 
     nation's ability to maintain the infrastructure, human 
     services and social programs necessary for our nation's 
     security, general welfare and progress; and
       Whereas, It has not been substantiated that all other means 
     of disarming Saddam Hussein in accordance with United Nations 
     resolutions have been attempted and have failed; and
       Whereas, The United States government has not articulated 
     how a military attack would result in the formation of an 
     Iraqi government that rejects the development of nuclear, 
     biological or chemical weapons and promotes freedom and 
     democracy; and
       Whereas, In the event that our armed forces are called into 
     combat in Iraq, we recognize, honor and appreciate the 
     commitment, service and valor of our military personnel, and 
     together with their families, we fervently hope for their 
     safe return; and
       Whereas, This resolution speaks of the United States' 
     response to the current crisis involving Iraq and does not 
     address any action the United States might take in response 
     to any future humanitarian crisis; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the government of the United States should 
     make all efforts to work through the United Nations Security 
     Council in a manner that would reaffirm our nation's 
     commitment to the rule of law and the primacy of human rights 
     in our international relationships, and should take all 
     appropriate steps toward securing the participation of other 
     nations and international bodies in the effort to ensure that 
     Iraq does not possess biological, chemical or nuclear weapons 
     and toward promoting human rights for all the people of Iraq; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That the government of the United States should 
     work through the United Nations Security Council and with 
     other nations to ensure the unimpeded access of United 
     Nations weapons inspectors to all areas of and facilities in 
     Iraq and to ensure that the inspectors be given a full and 
     fair opportunity to conduct their efforts in accordance with 
     United Nations Security Council resolutions; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York opposes 
     a preemptive military attack on Iraq unless it is 
     demonstrated that Iraq poses a real and imminent threat to 
     the security and safety of the United States or its allies or 
     unless all other options for achieving compliance with United 
     Nations resolutions calling for the elimination of weapons of 
     mass destruction and the means for their development have 
     failed.

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