SENATE MEMORIAL 11

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2006

INTRODUCED BY

Gerald P. Ortiz y Pino

A MEMORIAL

EXPRESSING THE INTENT OF THE SENATE THAT NEW MEXICO'S ARMY AND AIR NATIONAL GUARD BE IMMEDIATELY WITHDRAWN FROM THE WAR IN IRAQ.

     WHEREAS, there are currently five hundred twenty-nine members of New Mexico's army and air national guard deployed in Iraq; and

     WHEREAS, President Bush deployed New Mexico's army and air national guard on the premise that weapons of mass destruction existed in Iraq; and

     WHEREAS, it has been conclusively determined that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq; and

     WHEREAS, President Bush deployed New Mexico's army and air national guard on the premise that Iraq was linked to the attacks on September 11, 2001; and

     WHEREAS, it has been conclusively determined that Iraq was not involved in the attacks on September 11, 2001; and

     WHEREAS, President Bush deployed New Mexico's army and air national guard on the premise that Iraq was the most serious threat facing the national security of the United States; and

     WHEREAS, it has been conclusively determined that Iraq poses no risk to America's national security; and

     WHEREAS, according to the latest CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll, fifty-five percent of Americans do not view the war in Iraq as being related to the war against terrorism; fifty-two percent believe that invading Iraq was a mistake; and fifty-five percent do not believe President Bush has a plan that will achieve victory for the United States in Iraq; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico's national guard units should only be deployed when grave matters of national security are at stake; and

     WHEREAS, America's allies have already reduced their forces in Iraq by twenty six-thousand troops since the March 2003 invasion; and

     WHEREAS, two of America's allies, Bulgaria and Ukraine, withdrew all of their forces from Iraq in December, and a half dozen other allies are debating possible withdrawals; and

     WHEREAS, according to a recent ABC News-Time Magazine poll, more than two-thirds of Iraqis disapprove of the presence of United States forces in Iraq; and

     WHEREAS, members of New Mexico's army and air national guard are caught in the middle of a civil war with no victory in sight; and

     WHEREAS, almost one-half of all American military casualties are caused by roadside bombs, such that American forces have simply become defenseless human targets for pointless slaughter; and

     WHEREAS, the lives of the five hundred twenty-nine men and women serving in New Mexico's army and air national guard should not be sacrificed in Iraq;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that President Bush be hereby called upon to immediately withdraw New Mexico's army and air national guard from the war in Iraq; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the president of the United States.

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