A Resolution in Opposition to U.S. Military Intervention in
Syria
1) WHEREAS,
since March 2011, Syria has been embroiled in a complex civil war between the
Syrian government led by President Bashar al-Assad and his supporters and opposed
by a multitude of rebel factions, ranging from the Free Syrian Army to Kurdish
nationalists, jihadists, entities designated by the U.S. as terrorists, and
al-Qaeda affiliates.
2) WHEREAS,
U.S. officials say evidence indicates that the al-Assad regime has recently
used chemical weapons against Syrian citizens;
3) WHEREAS, the U.S. Constitution
is unequivocal in stating, “The Congress shall have Power….to declare War”, notwithstanding numerous
U.S. military operations launched by past and current Presidents with little or
no involvement by Congress;
4) WHEREAS,
President Obama has called on the U.S. Congress to authorize the use of U.S.
military force in Syria;
5) WHEREAS,
recent press coverage suggests U.S. officials are considering the use of
military force, including specifically targeting Syrian chemical munitions;
6) WHEREAS, complete
neutralization of chemical warfare agents is highly technical, extremely
difficult, and fraught with challenges; scientific research has shown that even
low-level chemical warfare agent exposure is likely to result in long-term
disability; and, past U.S. efforts to “surgically” destroy chemical weapons
including in the 1991 Gulf War exposed countless people including U.S. troops
to varying levels of chemical warfare agents;
7) WHEREAS,
any use of U.S. military force in the Syrian civil war will almost certainly
have unintended, unpredictable, detrimental consequences; may result in drawing
the U.S. into a protracted, costly, complex war with ill-defined objectives or
end state; and, may help anti-U.S. extremists come to power;
8) WHEREAS, the illegal and immoral use
of chemical weapons within Syria does not by itself – and without a clear,
present, and direct threat to the U.S. – legitimize the unilateral use of one
country’s military force in Syria, including that of the U.S.;
9) WHEREAS,
the international community of nation-states, through an array of international
institutions, organizations, and alliances, can be led to hold accountable
those who violate international law, including those who developed, provided,
procured, assembled, technically assisted, trained, authorized, and launched
chemical weapons in Syria;
10) WHEREAS, Syria is a
signatory to the Geneva Convention on the laws of warfare and those responsible
for chemical weapons in Syria can be indicted and tried, including before the
International Criminal Court, for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and
genocide.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that
Florida Veterans for Common Sense Call On the U.S. Congress and the President
to:
·
Hold accountable via all viable, internationally sanctioned means, including
legal, economic, and political, those responsible for the use of chemical
weapons, including in Syria;
·
Oppose the unilateral use of U.S. military force without clear, present,
and direct danger to U.S. national security, including in Syria;
·
Oppose the use of U.S. military force in Syria unless there is: clear
authorization under international law; and, a broad-based international
coalition with clearly defined objectives aimed at the restoration of law and
order; and, a clear plan to pay the full costs of the military action including
the perpetual costs to fully care for every U.S. veteran disabled by the
military action;
·
Oppose military strikes targeting chemical weapons due to inevitable and
widespread collateral exposure to chemical warfare agents;
·
Support international monitoring and the careful, orderly, science-based
destruction of chemical weapons wherever they exist, including Syria;
·
Oppose support by the U.S. for Syrian rebels and other anti-government
fighters, including in Syria, who are jihadist or other anti-U.S. extremists.
_____/S/_______
Harvey Gochberg,
Secretary
Florida Veterans for Common Sense Inc.
September 4, 2013
Florida Veterans for Common
Sense, Inc. is a 501(c)4 non-profit/non-partisan veterans advocacy organization.
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