(This is from the electronic version of Demogram, which is published by the Lewis County Democratic Central Committee.
Lewis H. Zieske, Jr., Editor.)

At its quarterly meeting on September 28, 2002, the Washington State Democratic Party, by a unanimous vote, urged our Senators and members of Congress to oppose a unilateral first strike by U.S. Forces upon the nation of Iraq. Lewis County representatives to the State Democratic meeting, Deanna Zieske, Bob Guenther and Pat Underhill, joined in that vote.

The resolution addresses the importance of building strong international support for controlling and bringing about change in the government of Iraq, but that such change must be accomplished without thrashing the principles of the U.S. Constitution.

Those who drafted the resolution stood strongly for the principles of free speech, the importance of dissent, and that we should not blindly accept any public policy proclamation by the President in the name of national unity and national defense.

Having articulated those principles, the resolution concludes by saying:

“BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT the Washington State Democratic Party strongly believes that the United States must not strike out unilaterally to force regime changes in Iraq or any other nation, and such unilateral action would call into question the legitimacy of the United States as the chief proponent of the rule of law and as a leader of nations.

“BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any course of military action by the Bush administration must follow the Constitutional requirements of congressional approval, as well as consultation with the United Nations Security Council.

“And We further call upon U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, and Congressmen Jay Inslee, Rick Larsen, Brian Baird, Norm Dicks, Jim McDermott, and Adam Smith to oppose any congressional resolution or legislative declaration of war that contravenes the intent of this resolution.”

3rd District Congressman Brian Baird and Senator Patty Murray listened, voting against a resolution in Congress that would have given the President powers to unilaterally attack Iraq. We thank them and the other members of Washington's Congressional delegation who courageously took that stand. Congressman Baird is already taking a hit in local print media for his stand on attacking Iraq.

Click here to read full text of Resolution
Back to October 2002 Demogram