THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	131
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE  RESOLUTION

urging the President of the United States and Congress to discontinue further escalation of the war in Iraq and to immediately commence the orderly withdrawal of American military forces from Iraq.

     WHEREAS, in March 2003, the United States (U.S.) initiated a military incursion into Iraq; and

     WHEREAS, in March 2003, the American public was told that the primary reason for the incursion was to eliminate weapons of mass destruction, and it has since been documented that none were stockpiled in Iraq at the time U.S. military forces entered the country; and

     WHEREAS, it is now apparent that the U.S. Department of Defense did not develop an exit strategy prior to the invasion, incorrectly assuming that the Iraqi people would welcome U.S. forces with open arms and that withdrawal would occur without difficulty; and

     WHEREAS, the continuing onslaught of sectarian violence and indications of ethnic cleansing in some areas of Iraq have proven disruptive to all aspects of Iraqi society; and

     WHEREAS, more than 3,000 American military personnel and tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians and military personnel have died since March 2003; and

     WHEREAS, thousands of Hawaii National Guard troops have served in Iraq since March 2003, with more slated for deployment in the coming months if the policies of the Bush Administration continue on their current course; and

     WHEREAS, the cost of this war to date, according to the Congressional Research Service, is at least $379,000,000,000, with even higher military expenditures, promising severe economic impacts on households and institutions throughout the state and nation; and

     WHEREAS, on January 10, 2007, President Bush announced his intention to escalate the war by sending an additional 21,500 troops in an effort to salvage the failed occupation and has already begun to implement this escalation; and

     WHEREAS, a national poll conducted on the day following the President's announcement indicated that 70 percent of the American people are opposed to further escalation of the situation in Iraq; and

     WHEREAS, all indications point to rapidly declining support for the war in Iraq among the people of Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, the members of the Hawaii State Legislature have the greatest respect for troops deployed to Iraq and elsewhere, and criticisms of the nation's policies are not intended to be construed as a lack of support for the men and women in the armed forces who risk their lives each day; and

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Legislature wishes to join more than 20 state legislatures in the United States that have already passed resolutions expressing opposition to the continuation of the war in Iraq; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, that the President of the United States and Congress are urged to discontinue further escalation of the war in Iraq and to immediately commence the orderly withdrawal of American military forces from Iraq; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Bush Administration and Congress are strongly urged to fully fund all veterans' benefits to appropriately care for the men and women of the armed services as they return from the war; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, Secretary of Defense, and each member of Hawaii's Congressional delegation.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Iraq War; Immediate Withdrawal of Troops