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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 65

 
2     WHEREAS, The Authorization for Use of Military Force
3 Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 was passed by the U.S. Congress
4 on October 11, 2002, and Public Law 107-243 cited Iraq's
5 possession of weapons of mass destruction as a primary reason
6 for the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq; and
 
7     WHEREAS, Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was a brutal
8 dictator who used weapons of mass destruction against Iraqi
9 civilians and flouted international law; and
 
10     WHEREAS, Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was a danger
11 to the stability of the region; and
 
12     WHEREAS, The United States initiated combat operations in
13 Iraq on March 19, 2003; and
 
14     WHEREAS, On January 12, 2005, President Bush officially
15 declared an end to the search for weapons of mass destruction
16 in Iraq; and
 
17     WHEREAS, United States Armed Forces toppled the
18 totalitarian Ba'athist regime in Iraq, and captured Saddam
19 Hussein; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, On January 10, 2007, President George W. Bush
2 announced his plan to deepen the United States military
3 involvement in Iraq by deploying approximately 21,000
4 additional United States combat forces to Iraq; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Over 137,000 American military personnel are
6 currently serving in Iraq, like thousands of others since March
7 2003, with the bravery and professionalism consistent with the
8 finest traditions of the United States Armed Forces, and are
9 deserving of the support of all Americans, which they have
10 strongly; and
 
11     WHEREAS, Many American service personnel have lost their
12 lives, and many more have been wounded, in Iraq, and the
13 American people will always honor their sacrifices and honor
14 their families; and
 
15      WHEREAS, More than $200 billion has been appropriated by
16 Congress to fund military operations and reconstruction in
17 Iraq, and Illinois residents' share now exceeds $2.1 billion;
18 and
 
19     WHEREAS, The March/April 2007 edition of Foreign Policy
20 magazine estimates that in 2007 the Iraq war will cost the
21 American people $245,370 per minute; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, The funds spent by Illinois taxpayers on the war
2 and occupation in Iraq could have provided Head Start for one
3 year for more than 238,056 children; or medical insurance for
4 one year for more than 1,076,242 children; or more than 31,147
5 public school teachers for one year; or more than 16,183
6 additional housing units, according to the National Priorities
7 Project; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Iraq is witnessing widening sectarian and
9 intra-sectarian violence; and
 
10     WHEREAS, The responsibility for Iraq's internal security
11 and halting sectarian violence must rest primarily with the
12 Government of Iraq and Iraqi Security Forces; and
 
13     WHEREAS, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki stated on
14 November 27, 2006, that "The crisis is political, and the ones
15 who can stop the cycle of aggravation and bloodletting of
16 innocents are the politicians"; therefore, be it
 
17     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL
18 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the State of Illinois,
19 on behalf of its citizens, salutes and supports the dedicated
20 service of the members of the United States Armed Forces,
21 including members of the Illinois National Guard; and be it
22 further
 

 

 

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1     RESOLVED, That on behalf of the citizens of Illinois, the
2 Senate believes that it is not in the national interest of the
3 United States to deepen its military involvement in Iraq,
4 particularly by escalating the United States military force
5 presence in Iraq; and it be further
 
6     RESOLVED, That the primary objective of United States
7 strategy in Iraq should be to have the Iraqi political leaders
8 make the political compromises necessary to end the violence in
9 Iraq; and be it further
 
10     RESOLVED, That greater concerted regional and
11 international support would assist the Iraqis in achieving a
12 political solution and national reconciliation; and be it
13 further
 
14     RESOLVED, That the United States should engage nations in
15 the Middle East to develop a regional, internationally
16 sponsored peace and reconciliation process for Iraq; and be it
17 further
 
18     RESOLVED, That the United States should transfer, under an
19 appropriately expedited timeline, responsibility for internal
20 security and halting sectarian violence in Iraq to the
21 Government of Iraq and Iraqi Security Forces from American

 

 

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1 military personnel; and be it further
 
2     RESOLVED, That the Department of Defense and the Veterans
3 Administration must provide the highest quality of care to our
4 wounded and injured American heroes; and be it further
 
5     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution shall be
6 sent to George W. Bush, President of the United States, the
7 members of the Illinois Congressional delegation, the Speaker
8 of the United States House of Representatives, the Minority
9 Leader of the United States House of Representatives, the
10 President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, and the
11 Minority Leader of the United States Senate.