At least 73 cities in the US have approved a resolution requesting that our troops be brought home from Iraq. INOC, The Interfaith Network of Concern for the People of Iraq, was advised by one of the members of the Seattle City Council that if it desired such a resolution to be passed by the City Council, a groundswell of public support for it should first be generated. He suggested that Seattle citizens send letters or emails to each Council member. INOC feels it would be best if a copy of the INOC resolution which follows is included in the letter or message since it makes critical points about a peace conference and reparations to Iraq.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE THAT:

1) Iraq belongs to the Iraqis, and they alone should have control of their natural resources, their territory, their government and their policies. Therefore, the US government should renounce interest in controlling the Iraqi economy and government, and renounce plans for permanent US military bases in Iraq. These declarations should be made immediately.

2) The US government should then seek a peace/disengagement conference, organized by the Secretary General of the United Nations, to be held in a neutral country between the"coalition" and major political factions in Iraq. The conference is to work out the terms for the US military and economic disengagement from Iraq and suggest a process of reconciliation among factions within Iraq.

3) For damages done during two wars and twelve years of sanctions, the US government has major obligations to the people of Iraq, including the funding of the reconstruction of civilian infrastructure and the environmental cleanup of US weapons debris. And further, that work should engage and benefit Iraqis not foreign corporations.

The Seattle City Council members are:

The address for each of them is: P.O. Box 34025; Seattle, WA 98124-4025. --Phil Heft