Resolution Regarding
Pre-emptive War Against
WHEREAS, the Iraqi
regime headed by Saddam Hussein may be developing weapons of mass
destruction that would pose a great threat to the people of the United
States and the world, and
WHEREAS, this danger must be carefully monitored and all necessary action
taken to protect the people of the United States, and
WHEREAS, the United States successfully contained the very grave danger
posed by the Soviet Union and its weapons of mass destruction for over forty
years, until economic and political changes in the Soviet Union forced a
change in the regime, and
WHEREAS, a unilateral pre-emptive war against Iraq would likely have grave
consequences for the United States and our allies, including possible
collapse of the coalition against terrorism, destabilization of the Middle
East and possible hostilities against the State of Israel, great economic
dislocations, and great loss of life in Iraq and in our invading forces, and
WHEREAS, the United States Constitution requires approval of the Congress
for war against another country, and this is especially applicable to a
pre-emptive war planned and announced long in advance, and
WHEREAS, the United Nations Charter, a treaty which is the supreme law of
the land, allows the use of force only (1) in self-defense against an attack
pursuant to Article 51 of the Charter, or (2) when authorized by the
Security Council as necessary to counter a threat to international peace and
security under Chapter VII of the Charter, and
WHEREAS, we fought the Persian Gulf War in 1991 to uphold the principle that
no nation may attack another for purposes other than self-defense against an
actual attack, and proceeded to war against Iraq only after authorization by
the UN Security Council, and
WHEREAS, even numerous prominent Republicans from both the moderate and
conservative wings of that Party have publicly questioned the wisdom of a
pre-emptive American war against Iraq,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED:
1. The Democratic Party of the State of New York questions the wisdom of a
pre-emptive American war against Iraq, and urges that every effort be made
to protect the United States by means of a policy of containment, by a full
weapons inspections program, and by the maintenance of a fully adequate
American force to deter and protect against any possible Iraqi attack
2. The NY Democratic Party urges that if the President believes that the
danger of an attack by weapons of mass destruction from Iraq is real and
imminent, and that this danger cannot be safely contained and sufficient
protections maintained, that the President, prior to commencing an attack
against Iraq, obtain
a. full and complete public debate
b. approval by a majority of both houses of the Congress, and