Group wants city's support on Iraq (Loveland, CO)

Loveland Reporter Herald ^ | 02/04/03 | Dave Brendsel

[fivetoes]

Group wants city's support on Iraq

By Dave Brendsel
Reporter-Herald Staff Writer

A Loveland peace group will ask the City Council tonight to pass a resolution urging national leaders to pursue diplomacy before war with Iraq.

"I think we have a thoughtful council that will give it a serious reception," said the Rev. Robert Davidson, spokesman for the Loveland Peace Coalition.

The coalition has dozens of members who have been active in Loveland's peace movement for more than 15 years, he said. Tonight, several of them will ask the council to support a resolution that calls for a "diplomatic resolution of all issues related to Iraq."

Councilman Gene Pielin said he won't support the resolution. Whether to support the war with Iraq is each American's personal decision, he said, not a matter for him to decide as a City Councilman.

Councilman Don Marostica said he would not support such a resolution either. He said he trusts President Bush to make the right decision with the information he has on Iraq.

"That's why we hired him," Marostica said.

Though the resolution probably won't pass in Loveland, Davidson admits, such efforts are gaining ground across the country. More than 50 U.S. city councils have passed similar resolutions, including those in the Colorado communities of Boulder, Telluride and Nederland.

A Ciruli Associates poll released Monday shows 53 percent of Coloradans supporting the war and 42 percent opposing it, with 70 percent calling for continued weapons inspections.

"So many Loveland residents have concerns," Davidson said.

And well they should, he said. Though national in scope, a war with Iraq has local implications, he said - families sending sons or daughters off to war, war spending further damaging national and local economies, and potential terrorist retaliations played out in communities across the United States.

Before the country commits to war, Davidson said, national leaders should prove that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction, that all diplomatic efforts have failed and that the United States has the support of the world community.

"I don't think we've reached that point," Davidson said.

Loveland Peace Coalition member Dr. Hussam Fadhli says such a war may never be justified. An attack on Iraq, he said, will only make Saddam Hussein stronger and more popular with his people.

Fadhli was born in Iraq, but has lived in the United States for 45 years. He was a heart surgeon in Texas for many years before moving to Loveland to become a sculptor.

After the Persian Gulf War, Fadhli went to Iraq on a medical mission. The embargo of Iraq plunged the population into sickness and poverty, he said, steeling its resolve against the United States and for Saddam.

If the United States really wanted to get rid of Saddam Hussein, Fadhli said, it would lift the embargo and let Iraqi citizens take care of him. A healthy, educated citizenry would rise up against the dictator, he said, but a population reeling from the embargo and facing new attacks will rally to his side.

"These people will not submit," Fadhli said.

He said it is his duty as a doctor to try to prevent the kind of "inhumanity" an attack on Iraq would inflict on both sides. A resolution from Loveland and like cities, he said, may force national leaders to reconsider their course of action.

"I pray to God for wisdom on both sides," Fadhli said.

The Loveland City Council meets at 6:30 p.m. at the Municipal Building, 500 E. Third St.

[fivetoes]

The stories in the online edition are pulled daily with no archieves.

[fivetoes]

I just got back from this meeting and the resolution will not be considered. The resolution was presented well with some emotional pleas to the council. One gentleman got up to voice his dissenet for the resolution. He made some valid points, the best one was that the resolution stated that the 'citizens of Loveland, Colorado support this resolution'. He said he was a citizen, but he did not support it. Their resolution looks like it could have come from this web site, with a few modifications. http://www.ips-dc.org/citiesforpeace/toolkit.htm

I only learned about the resolution this afternoon and prepared about a dozen pages of rebutal. Thankfully I did not have to speak, the council wanted to keep the comments to a minimum. I think six of the nine council members voiced that they would not vote for a resolution of this type. One peacnik shouted out that he wanted a vote on it. He was told that it was not on the agenda as a voting matter.

There were about 20 peacniks in attendance and 20 long faces afterward. Most of them were the same crowd that spoke out at the Allard town meeting. I'm glad they didn't bring the paper maché big heads. It was a little chilly out to Freep em.

These people are serious about getting these resolutions passed. We have our own Resolution to Support Our Troops. It just started the other day.

What I learned today is you can defeat these people with common sense and logic, but don't expect others to do it.

[fivetoes]

Not exactly a FReep, but it was educational.

[scab4faa]

Well I'm a citizen of Loveland and I wouldn't have supported it. I'm glad it didn't pass and that you didn't have to waste your breath on these peaceniks..

[bluesagewoman]

Our peaceniks are planning about the same thing, only they know the red tape rules and how to work the city council. They already have an item on the ballot for April for our town to vote to legalize pot (up to a certain amount). I know they are circulating a peace petition, and will very likely get enough signatures. Never turn your backs on these guys.

[weldgophardline]

I Freeped on KHOW at 5:45 this moring they were giving a plug for the protesters , and I wanted a plug for our side and how anti bush they are . I told Peter Boyles if he wanted to see how anti america these people are to come out to our freeps and see them.

[Erasmus]

Loveland, July 1963.

[fivetoes]

I'll see your picture and raise you. I just took this moments ago. Looks like we grew some trees and replaced some street lights.

And stepping back a few yards one can see that we are ready.

A couple of years ago they dedicated the park to Harold Dwayne Webster. Here is the plaque that adorns the entrance way. God Bless our Troops!

[chnsmok]

Thanks for the pics. Left Loveland in 1971. Wonderful town. Went back for Dan's Bake Sale. Brother in Ft. Collins.

[fivetoes]

Perhaps we met in Ft. Collins at the bake sale.

[chnsmok]

We were under a storefront overhang on Rush's left (because of the rain). Got "Bo"'s and Dan's autographs. Highlight of my life.

[fivetoes]

My wife and I were in the middle some where. I started the ole 'Woodstock' chant NO RAIN! NO RAIN! NO RAIN! Now I stand on corners shouting at leftists. LOL

I did manage to get about ten feet from Rush, but he did have some rather large body guards with him.

[chnsmok]

That was so much fun! We got there early enough (I thought) to touch the stage. Husband made me get out of the rain! Of course, he was probably thinking of our son. I should have been. LOL.