Butte is the First Montana City to Call for Withdrawal from Iraq

TAPS NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE USE

Contacts:

Helena: John Mundinger (406) 449-8996
Butte: Dave Coleman (406) 498-5925
Missoula: Betsy Mulligan-Dague (406) 543 3955

For Immediate Release:

Butte is the First Montana City to Call for Withdrawal from Iraq

Today the Butte-Silver Bow Council of Commissioners voted 8 - 4 to pass
a resolution calling for a “rapid and comprehensive withdrawal” from
Iraq. Butte is the first Montana city to call for the withdrawal of
troops, and joins hundreds of cities and towns nationwide who have
called for an end to the occupation of Iraq.

The resolution also calls on congress to fully fund mental, physical
health, education, disability and rehabilitation benefits for veterans,
and to pursue security and stability through diplomacy. The resolution
was introduced to the council last April by a group of veterans and
concerned citizens called the Butte Montanans Support our Troops and
Withdrawal from Iraq Coalition.

“With this vote for withdrawal from Iraq, the Butte-Silver Bow
government has made it clear that local cities and towns should have a
voice on the war in Iraq,” said council member Dave Coleman, whose son
was injured serving in Iraq. “This is a call for accountability in
Washington D.C.”

This spring, citizens from Helena, Missoula, and Butte announced a
statewide campaign to pass municipal-level measures requesting support
for U.S. troops and withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Iraq. The
campaign, called Montanans Support for Troops and Military Withdrawal,
includes veterans, students, mothers and fathers of soldiers, and
hundreds of public and private professionals.

On March 12th, the Helena City Commission voted unanimously to place a
referendum calling for withdrawal from Iraq on the ballot for voters to
pass or fail in November. Missoula city council members are now
considering similar measures to those in Butte and Helena. However,
Butte is the first Montana city to formally call for increased support
for military personnel and an end to war in Iraq.

“Voters across America called for change last November,” asserted John
Mundinger, a veteran and spokesman for Helenans for Troops Home. Senator
Tester, Senator Baucus, and Representative Rehberg need to be reminded
that communities across Montana will speak up even if they don’t.”

Betsy Mulligan-Dague, Executive Director of the Jeanette Rankin Peace
Center, added that, “Nearly 300 cities across the country have passed
measures calling for withdrawal from Iraq. Butte has had the courage to
become the whistleblower for Montana. Helena and Missoula are answering
the call, and we hope other Montana cities and towns will do the same.”

The Butte Resolution was supported by Commissioners Coleman, Lee,
Sheehy, Mulcahy, Moodry, O'Leary, Fay and Foley. It was opposed by
Commissioners Shaw, Granger, Fraz and Sorich.

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COUNCIL RESOLUTION No. __

A RESOLUTION URGING THE CESSATION OF WAR AND COMBAT OPERATIONS IN IRAQ,
THE RETURN OF AMERICAN TROOPS AND FULL FUNDING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF
AMERICA'S VETERANS, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE HEREIN.

WHEREAS, the Butte Silver Bow City-County Council supports the more than
one million brave men and women deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan since
2001, honors the memory of those who have lost their lives in the war,
those who have survived with devastating injuries, and supports the
families who have lost their loved ones; and

WHEREAS, the war in Iraq, now in its fifth year has caused the deaths of
more than 3,236 U.S. Service People and an estimated 600,000 Iraqis; the
psychological wounding and disabling of more than 23,417 American
service people and of hundreds of thousands Iraqis and the destruction
of the homes, communities, and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of
Iraqis; and

WHEREAS, the funds spent by Butte-Silver Bow tax payers on the war and
occupation in Iraq alone equals more than $21,860,048 and which could
have provided enough money for 13,089 children to have a years worth of
health insurance; provided enough money for 2895 children to utilize
Head Start for one year; hire 378 additional school teachers; built 196
housing units; or provided more than 1059 four-year college scholarships
at public universities, according to the National Priorities Project; and

WHEREAS, nearly three-hundred similar resolutions have been enacted and
registered by local governments throughout the country; and

WHEREAS, it is the duty of the Council of Commissioners of Butte-Silver
Bow to act on behalf and in the best interests of the citizens of
Butte-Silver Bow; and

WHEREAS, the Council of Commissioners of Butte-Silver Bow is empowered
to make such resolutions as may be necessary for the preservation of
health, welfare, peace and order.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
CITY AND COUNTY OF BUTTE-SILVER BOW, STATE OF MONTANA, THAT THE
CITY-COUNTY OF BUTTE-SILVER BOW URGES THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO:

SECTION 1: Implement a plan for the orderly, rapid, and comprehensive
withdrawal of United States military personnel from Iraq; establishing a
plan for the ongoing transition of responsibility for internal security
activities to the military forces of the Iraqi Government; and

SECTION 2: Support our troops by ensuring that returning veterans
receive compensation and care, including full mental and physical
health, education, disability, and rehabilitation benefits; and

SECTION 3: Provide the people of Iraq with appropriate non-military aid
as shall be necessary for the security of Iraq's citizens and for the
rebuilding of Iraq; pursuing security and stability in Iraq through
diplomacy; and

SECTION 4: BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be
forwarded immediately subsequent to passage to George W. Bush, President
of the United States, Senator Max Baucus, Senator Jon Tester,
Congressman Denny Rehbert, and Butte-Silver Bow's elected
representatives to the Montana State House and Senate.

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