Submitted to and Passed by the AEU 91st Assembly

Whereas the American Ethical Union’s National Leaders Council has earlier issued a statement on U.S. presence in Iraq (2003) and supports its membership in many acts of conscience regarding the integrity of U.S. presence in Iraq and the well-being of all peoples both Iraqi and others, military personnel and nonmilitary personnel,

The American Ethical Union stands for peace and cooperation among nations primarily through multilateralism and international rule of law as developed by States Parties at the United Nations and especially supports U.S. ratification of The International Criminal Court, the Geneva Conventions and The United Nations Charter;

The American Ethical Union abhors all forms of torture, and supports the fight against terrorism through the promotion of human rights, especially those that promote equality, tolerance, solidarity; freedom, shared responsibility and respect for the environment;

The American Ethical Union understands these rights to include governmental responsibility to protect civilians in times of war;

The American Ethical Union has earlier urged the United States to promote nonproliferation and disarmament treaties regarding the use of all weapons, nuclear and non-nuclear;

Be It Resolved the American Ethical Union calls upon the U.S. government to:

1. Treat any enemy combatants in full accord with the Geneva Conventions;
2. Renounce any intention of establishing permanent U.S. bases in Iraq,
3. Draw down and remove U.S. forces from Iraq as quickly as possible consistent with our moral obligations for protecting civilian lives;
4. Relinquish to the duly elected government of Iraq ownership and management of all Iraqi natural resources and public goods; and
5. Encourage multinational agencies to take over as much as possible of the responsibility for managing the external effort for the reconstruction of Iraq while fulfilling our moral and legal obligations for repairing the damage caused by the U.S. invasion.

 
Furthermore the American Ethical Union recognizes among the general public intense national debate regarding U.S. presence in Iraq exemplified by at least eleven Congressional bills presented during this 109th U.S. Congressional session alone and urges open debate in both Houses before the upcoming Congressional elections in 2006.

The American Ethical Union supports its members who exert leadership in dialogue among the general U.S. public regarding our moral and ethical responsibilities at home and abroad.