US Mayors: "No War in Iran" Resolution

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NIAC
by NIAC
30-Jun-2008
 

Julia Murray

The “Opposing Military Intervention in Iran” Resolution passed through the International Affairs Committee, 7-5, at the US Conference of Mayors last Friday. This event is currently being held in Miami, Florida and the resolution needed to be voted out of committee in order to reach the Conference floor. The full floor vote was scheduled for this morning at 10am E.S.T. but the results have yet to be released.

The committee’s passage of the resolution was an important development in the case against war with Iran. It is another indication that the public do not want military action to be taken against Iran. The members of the International Affairs Committee who argued against this resolution did not base their logic on national interest. Instead their objections rested more on the desire not to divide the Conference. It has been reported that they did not want to create debate and disruption among the mayors gathered in Miami and cause a repeat of the “Iraq: Bring the Troops Home” resolution which led to a two hour debate during last year’s meeting.

 

However, I cannot see how these arguments hold any validity. Should there always be consensus? Is it better to ignore an issue that has the potentiality of war rather than addressing it head on? I would argue no on both counts. It should not matter if the Conference splits because this is representative of the US, which as a democracy embraces a multiplicity of worldviews. Moreover, if by debating the resolution, a two hour discussion ensues then I would see this as a positive occurrence. There can be nothing better than for all outlooks, ideas and alternatives to war to be put out into the open. Even if talking is slow-moving and tedious, it will allow all options to be considered. Thus one hopes that final decision will be well-informed and the best course of action will be selected. Therefore the mayors should not shy away from addressing the issue of war with Iran; instead such robust debate should be encouraged. The same goes for the rest of our politicians as well as us, the public.

Even more important, it is possible that, by not talking about the possibility of war with Iran, it could appear that America is implicitly agreeing with the warmongering cries for military action to be taken against Iran. By staying quiet, nobody will ever know how you feel. By allowing the Conference of Mayors to discuss the Iran resolution, the International Affairs Committee has given mayors from all over the country the opportunity to voice their opinions and the opinions of their constituents. Twenty City Councils have already passed resolutions promoting diplomacy rather than war with Iran. This gives these cities’ mayors the chance to lend further weight to their actions and highlight the fact that this is a nation-wide feeling, not simply one that exists in isolated pockets of the country.

By debating this resolution in the general conference I hope that the momentum for diplomacy rather than war will continue to grow. Already we have seen grassroots campaigns, such as the Coalition for a New American Policy in Iran, promoting peaceful relations and I have heard esteemed academics advise against conflict between the US and Iran. If the Conference of Mayors addresses this resolution it will move the effort for diplomacy past civil society and into the sphere of elected politics. The next level to take the debate would be onto the floors of Congress.

There is still time to let your mayor know your views – it is never too late. Click here to contact him/her now.

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great victory for NIAC and America!

by no_name (not verified) on

This is a great victory for Americans who have lost so much as the result of decline of dollar, increase of oil prices, and loss of real income. The mayors are right, while American cities are getting bankrupted by lack of funding, we are spending trillions of dollars on Iraq for a war that was done for Israel.

We are in the juncture where America's global economical power would irrevocably be jeopardize by another war for Israel. America's Mayor have the judgment of focusing our resources here at home.


Niloufar Parsi

Go US mayors!

by Niloufar Parsi on

Excellent move.
Peace!


iraj khan

You go NIAC....

by iraj khan on

 

 

I would like to thank NIAC for keeping us informed and up to date about the political process in our country. Here is a good article by the "Code Pink" organization about the US mayors that I'm providing the link here:

//www.codepinkalert.org/article.php?id=4240

We need to get involved in the political process in this country not just for the the sake of Iran-US relations but for the sake of our own future and the future of our children. I hope the US mayors come up with a positive resolution regarding Iran at the end of their session. Non involvement in political process is not an option.

Lets educate ourselves about this process by getting involved, by calling our representatives, mayors, by writing to newspapers and the editorial pages. Nay sayers are a plenty and will not go away. We should not get disappointed or expect a quick result. We know we are on the right track.


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No war on IRAN

by NIAC supporter (not verified) on

Thank you NIAC! More power to you!

Please disregard Fred's comments, he's been advocating the killing of innocent iranians.


Fred

Boys Scouts here they come

by Fred on

To be taken seriously it is high time to exert equal pressure on the source of the trouble, the child murdering-women stoning- public hanging- illegally nuke pursuing master terrorist of them all, the Islamist Republic. At the rate NIAC/CASMII lobbies are going soon they will be loosing the U.S. mayors too and to create relevancy will have to go after getting the Boys Scouts of America’s approval of their “No War in Iran” camouflage.