L.A. calls for immediate pullout from Iraq

The L.A. council resolution says the Jan. 12, 2005, official end of the search for weapons of mass destruction terminated the mission that justified the use of U.S. armed forces in Iraq. It adds that the $2 billion spent each week on the occupation of Iraq has resulted in more than $4.5 billion in tax revenues being diverted from the city to support the war and occupation, as of June 1 of this year. The diversion of funds “severely degrades the quality of life for Los Angeles residents,” the resolution says.

The impetus for the resolution came from grassroots peace activists who united this summer to form a citywide coalition to pass the resolution and help build local actions for peace called End the War LA. The group developed a draft resolution and decided to present it for future consideration on Sept. 12, when the council returned from summer vacation.

Public sentiment against the war and support for the resolution are so strong that the council would have passed the measure on the spot if it were not for due process provisions that prohibited them from doing so.