Redirect military spending to domestic priorities

Whereas, taxpayers in the City of Whittier have paid over $409 million for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars since 2001; and

Whereas, the people of the United States are collectively paying approximately $126 billion dollars per year to wage war in Iraq and Afghanistan; and

Whereas, through July 1, 2011 6,024 members of the US armed forces have died in these wars; and at least 120,000 civilians have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan since the coalition attacks began, and

Whereas, the severity of the ongoing economic crisis has created budget shortfalls at all levels of government and requires us to re-examine our national spending priorities; and

Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the citizens of the Whittier Area urge support of the United States Conference of Mayors' efforts to speed up the ending of these wars; and

Be it further resolved, that the citizens of the Whittier Area support the United States Conference of Mayors call on the President of the U.S. Congress to end the wars as soon as strategically possible and bring these war dollars home to meet vital human needs, promote job creation, rebuild our infrastructure, aid municipal and state governments, and develop a new economy based upon renewable, sustainable energy and reduce the federal debt.