Supporting the Establishment of a Timeline for U.S. Military Activities in Iraq

WHEREAS, the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-243; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) was passed by Congress on October 11, 2002; and

WHEREAS, on October 19, 2002, the NAACP National Board of Directors unanimously passed a resolution opposing armed conflict against the Country of Iraq without exercising all options, including but not limited to, United Nations arms inspections and expressing our concern regarding the disproportionate enlistment of young people into the armed services, particularly African Americans; and

WHEREAS, Public Law 107-243 cited Iraq's possession of weapons of mass destruction as a primary reason for the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq; and

WHEREAS, on January 12, 2005, without finding any weapons of mass destruction, the President officially declared an end to the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, the United States initiated combat operations in Iraq on March 19, 2003; and

WHEREAS, hundreds of thousands of members of the United States Armed Forces have served with honor and distinction in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, more than $200 billion has been appropriated by Congress to fund military operations and reconstruction in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, more than 1,700 members of the United States Armed Forces have been killed and more than 12,000 members of the Armed Forces have been wounded in substantially accomplishing the stated purpose of the United States of giving the people of Iraq a reasonable opportunity to decide their own future; and

WHEREAS, it is estimated that between 23,000 and 26,000 Iraqi citizens have also been killed since hostilities began; and

WHEREAS, the United States military occupation of Iraq has placed significant strains on the capacity of the United States Armed Forces, both active duty and reserve; and

WHEREAS, the armed forces of Iraq number more than 76,000 troops as of June 8, 2005, and are growing in number and capability daily; and

WHEREAS, the forces of the Iraqi Interior Ministry number more than 92,000 personnel as of June 8, 2005, and are growing in number and capability daily; and

WHEREAS, the United States has in place a timetable for training, equipping, and employing Iraqi security forces to take over the counterinsurgency mission from coalition forces; and

WHEREAS, the joint explanatory statement accompanying the conference report for the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005 (Public Law 109-13) requires the Secretary of Defense to report not later than July 10, 2005, and every 90 days thereafter, on measures of security, political, and economic progress in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, Congress, under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution of the United States, must accept its full share of responsibility in matters involving the deployment of United States Armed Forces in foreign wars; and

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP calls on the United States government to announce a plan for withdrawal of all United States Armed Forces from Iraq; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP urges the United States government, at the earliest possible date, to turn over all military operations in Iraq to the elected Government of Iraq and provide for the prompt and orderly withdrawal of all United States Armed Forces from Iraq; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the NAACP supports and urges the United States government to initiate such a withdrawal as soon as possible.