Whereas the United States invasion and occupation of Iraq has resulted in the destruction of Iraq’s infrastructure—resulting in less electricity, less clean drinking water, and more unemployment today than before the United States invasion; and

Whereas the justifications for the waging of war on Iraq have been exposed to be based on deliberate falsehoods; and

Whereas the continued occupation is only making life worse for most of the Iraqi people as each day leads to more violence, fewer public services, and an increasing lack of security; and

Whereas tens of thousands of U.S. service people have been killed or maimed, and hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis have lost their lives as a result of the U.S. invasion in 2003, the ongoing occupation, and the resulting unleashed violence; and

Whereas U.S. policy in Iraq has stoked sectarian divisions driving Iraq toward civil war; and

Whereas most U.S. military leaders agree that “staying the course” in Iraq is a policy that is bound to fail;

Therefore be it resolved that the California Federation of Teachers communicate to the California congressional delegation its strong opposition to the continuation of the Iraqi war including a call for Congress to:

• Vote FOR immediate withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Iraq, and
• Vote AGAINST any funds for military activities of any kind in Iraq, except for the safe withdrawal of all our military forces, and
• Vote FOR full veterans benefits, including adequate health care and other support for returning troops, veterans and their families, and
• Vote FOR reconstruction aid so that Iraqis, under their own direction and control, can rebuild their nation devastated by occupation and war, and
• Vote to redirect our tax dollars to meet human needs at home and abroad.

Be it further resolved that the CFT will seek to have a similar resolution approved by the California Labor Federation and each of its local central labor bodies, as well as the American Federation of Teachers, and

Be it further resolved that the CFT will publicize this position to its affiliated locals and ask that they, in turn, publicize this effort among their members.