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SAN JUAN COUNTY GOVERNMENT

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Commissioners ask for peaceful solution

posted 01/08/03
Ron Zee and Sherry Lawson presented a petition to both the Friday Harbor Town Council and the Board of County Commissioners. More than 600 islanders signed the petition asking the governmental bodies to pass a resolution advocating a peaceful diplomatic solution to the dispute between the United States and Iraq. The BOCC passed the resolution with San Juan County Commissioners Rhea Miller and Darcie Nielsen voting for and Commissioner John Evans voting against. The town council declined to pass a resolution. FULL TEXT OF RESOLUTION

Resolution Advocating a Peaceful Diplomatic Solution to the Dispute Between the United States and Iraq

Whereas, a war against Iraq threatens to destabilize the entire Middle East region, possibly resulting in a wider regional or global war; and

Whereas, a war to remove Saddam Hussein is the most credible scenario that would cause Iraq to use any weapons of mass destruction that it might possess; and

Whereas, past military conflict in the region resulted in widespread damage to the civilian infrastructureof Iraq and widespread suffering and death to Iraqi civilians; and

Whereas, a war against Iraq would significantly increase oil prices and further depress our national economy while detrimentally affecting the world economy; and

Whereas, a war against Iraq under present circumstances should not be undertaken unilaterally by the United States; and

Whereas, humane, international diplomatic efforts should be the preferred means to resolve international conflicts; and

Whereas, the government of Iraq has agreed to comply with the work of international weapons inspectors to determine Iraq's compliance with United National Security Council resolutions concerning the development of weapons of mass destruction by Iraq; and

Whereas, the ultimate security of the United States is dependent on creating the conditions of a good life for all nations, working together cooperatively to eliminate poverty, injustice, inequality, ill health, environmental degradation and other factors that breed war and terrorism; and

Whereas, the citizens of San Juan County, and its local elected officials, have the constitutional right to petition the national government on this matter of grave concern to our community as part of the national and international debate now underway; and

Whereas, San Juan Board of County Commissioners cannot speak for all residents but has been asked by hundreds of people to speak out on this momentous issue facing our nation.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the San Juan County Board of Commissioners goes on record to:

  • Urge the President and our representatives in Congress to work with and through the United Nations to obtain compliance by Iraq with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441 concerning the disarmament of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and to support fully the work of international weapons inspectors in Iraq for that purpose,

  • Urge the President and our federal officials to actively support United Nations' diplomatic efforts to support and encourage democracy and respect for human rights in Iraq and all nations,

  • Urge the President to reaffirm the articles of the United Nations Charter and the principles of international law on the peaceful resolution of disputes,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that no war against Iraq be undertaken at any time byt the United States without the agreement of the United Nations Security Council under the United Nations Charter, and without a full debate and vote in the United States Congress under Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution,

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED to forward this resolution to The President of the United States and our congressional delegation.

ADOPTED this 31st day of December 2002.

Signed by San Juan County Commissioners Rhea Miller and Darcie Nielsen

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