Open
World Conference of Workers
In Defense of Trade Union Independence & Democratic Rights
Immediate Withdrawal of all US & Allied Forces from Iraq
Resolution of San Francisco Labor Council -- for presentation at the
USLAW Labor Assembly for Peace in Chicago, October 24-25, 2003.
IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL OF ALL US & ALLIED FORCES FROM IRAQ
Whereas, the San Francisco Labor Council took an early position
opposing the Iraq war and occupation, and helped to found US Labor Against
the War;
Whereas, USLAW was founded to oppose the war, and took a strong position
opposing the occupation of Iraq, as expressed in the demand, "Bring
the Troops Home Now." On the basis of these positions, USLAW has been
an effective force in building the anti-war movement within the House of
Labor;
Whereas, the US, British and all colonial occupying forces must leave
Iraq, without preconditions. It is the brutal US/UN sanctions and US
war that are the primary reasons Iraq went in 13 years from being a
comparatively prosperous and modern society that provided for the basic
needs of its people, to an impoverished country wracked by sanctions and
war. Their immediate departure must be our unambiguous demand;
Whereas, the Occupation forces are the main source of the problem,
and cannot be part of the solution. Only when the foreign occupiers are
gone will Iraq be in a position to rebuild its society as a sovereign and
independent nation. The people in Iraq want the US occupation to end, and
the US soldiers in Iraq want to come home;
Whereas, during the Vietnam War the San Francisco Labor Council, along
with the mainstream of the anti-war movement, raised the unambiguous
demand, "Out Now" and "Bring the Troops Home Now";
Whereas, Veterans for Peace, at their recent national convention in San
Francisco, adopted three resolutions calling for immediate withdrawal of
all occupation forces from Iraq, and this is also the demand raised by
leaders of the rapidly growing movement of Military Families who are
speaking out against the war and occupation;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the San Francisco Labor Council, AFL-CIO,
reaffirms our commitment to building a movement for immediate withdrawal
of all US and allied forces from Iraq; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council submit this resolution for
adoption at USLAW's National Labor Assembly for Peace being held in
Chicago, October 24-25, 2003.
--Adopted by the San Francisco Labor Council, September 22, 2003, by
unanimous vote.