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SENATE RESOLUTION


 

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    WHEREAS, The United States of America was the victim of a 
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massive and unprovoked terrorist attack on September 11, 2001; 
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and
 
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    WHEREAS, The terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 was 
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orchestrated by Osama bin Laden and the al Qaeda terrorist 
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network; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Osama bin Laden and the al Qaeda terrorist network 
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are also responsible for horrible acts of treachery and murder 
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against American citizens in Yemen, Tanzania, and Kenya; and
 
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     WHEREAS, The oppressive Taliban regime of Afghanistan 
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harbored Osama bin Laden and the leadership of the al Qaeda 
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terrorist network, and the Taliban regime of Afghanistan 
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refused to disavow and turn over to the United States 
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government Osama bin Laden and the leadership of the al Qaeda 
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terrorist network responsible for the September 11, 2001 
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attack; and
 
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    WHEREAS, With the strong support of the people of the 
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United States, including the people of Illinois, the United 
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States Armed Forces pursued Osama bin Laden and the al Qaeda 
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terrorist network in Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban 
 


 






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regime; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Through the dedicated efforts of the United States 
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Armed Forces and as a direct result of the fall of the Taliban 
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regime, a democratically elected government emerged in 
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Afghanistan; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The President of the United States and members of 
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the United States government, utilizing faulty and unreliable 
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intelligence, redirected United States military resources from 
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pursuing Osama bin Laden and the leaders of the al Qaeda 
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terrorist network in Afghanistan to an invasion of the country 
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of Iraq, though the government of Iraq had no responsibility 
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for the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and harbored 
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neither Osama bin Laden nor the leadership of the al Qaeda 
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terrorist network; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The United States Armed Forces are now engaged in 
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a protracted occupation of the country of Iraq that began in 
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2003; and
 
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    WHEREAS, More than 137,000 American military personnel are 
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serving in Iraq, and thousands more have served since March of 
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2003, with the bravery and professionalism consistent with the 
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finest traditions of the United States Armed Forces; and
 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, Thousands of American military personnel serving 
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in Iraq, including members of the Illinois National Guard, are 
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past and present residents of the State of Illinois; and
 
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    WHEREAS, All United States military personnel deserve the 
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support of the American people, and the people of Illinois; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The war and occupation of Iraq have resulted in 
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the deaths of more than 3,000 United States military personnel, 
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and the wounding and disabling of more than 22,000 United 
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States military personnel, among them past and present 
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residents of the State of Illinois; and
 
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    WHEREAS, On January 10, 2007, President George W. Bush 
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announced the escalation of United States military involvement 
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in Iraq by proposing the deployment of more than 21,000 
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additional United States military personnel, who are likely to 
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include many past and present residents of the State of 
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Illinois; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The proposed escalation could further extend the 
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tours of duty of members of the Illinois National Guard; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The cost of deployment to Iraq of members of the 
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Illinois National Guard has been significant, as reckoned in 
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lost lives; combat injuries; disruption of family life; 
 


 






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financial hardship for individuals, families, and businesses; 
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interruption of careers; and damage to the fabric of civic life 
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in our communities; and
 
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    WHEREAS, An escalated, open-ended commitment of United 
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States military forces in Iraq is unsustainable and serves as a 
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deterrent to the government of Iraq exercising political and 
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military leadership and providing Iraqi personnel and 
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resources required to end sectarian violence; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The continued redirection of United States 
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military resources away from the pursuit of Osama bin Laden and 
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the leadership of the al Qaeda terrorist network in Afghanistan 
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has led to a resurgence of Taliban forces, which could lead to 
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the destabilization of the democratically elected government 
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of Afghanistan; and
 
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    WHEREAS, United States military experts, including past 
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and present members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have stated 
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their opposition to an escalation of United States military 
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personnel in Iraq; and
 
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    WHEREAS, More than $357 billion has been appropriated by 
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the United States Congress to fund military and reconstruction 
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efforts in Iraq to date, money that could be utilized for 
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education, health care, housing, nutrition, and other domestic 
 


 






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social services, along with international humanitarian aid; 
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and
 
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    WHEREAS, Prior appropriations made by the United States 
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Congress have prioritized operations in Iraq, resulting in cuts 
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to critical financial assistance to states, including the State 
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of Illinois, and have increased the gross debt and compounded 
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interest of the United States, which leads to additional cuts 
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in funding for critical needs in the states; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The United States Congress has broad authority and 
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a long tradition of limiting military escalation by placing 
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budgetary limitations on such escalation, utilizing power 
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granted by the Constitution of the United States of America; 
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therefore, be it
 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, That the State of Illinois, 
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on behalf of its citizens, salutes and supports the dedicated 
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service of the members of the United States Armed Forces, 
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including members of the Illinois National Guard; and

be it 
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further
 
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    RESOLVED, That the American people, including the people of 
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Illinois, with unbounded determination, support the efforts of 
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the United States Armed Forces to pursue and defeat the 
 


 






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terrorist forces responsible for the September 11, 2001 attack 
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and make certain this form of treachery will never endanger the 
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American people again; and

be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That the State of Illinois, on behalf of its 
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citizens, urges that the United States government should not 
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put more members of the United States Armed Forces in harm's 
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way by escalating our involvement in Iraq through an increase 
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in troop levels; and

be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That the President of the United States should 
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obtain explicit approval from the United States Congress before 
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the deployment of additional United States military personnel 
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to Iraq; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That the United States Congress should pass 
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legislation prohibiting the President of the United States from 
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spending additional taxpayer money to fund an escalation of 
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troop levels in Iraq unless the President seeks and receives 
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congressional approval; and

be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution shall be 
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sent to President of the United States George W. Bush, each 
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member of the Illinois congressional delegation, the Speaker of 
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the United States House of Representatives, the Minority Leader 
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of the United States House of Representatives, the President 
 


 






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Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, and the Minority 
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Leader of the United States Senate.