Iraq motion from Green Party of England and Wales

Canvassing with seven others in winnable ward Kentish Town as part of my election tour, very encouraging...posting this sound Iraq motion, hopefully the Euro Greens will accept it and it will be useful for pushing the new Italian government which includes Verdi to get out of Iraq.

Dear colleagues on International Committee,

This is the motion which we agreed to put to the EGP conference in Helsinki. There were various suggestions about what should appear in the preamble and I did put forward one suggestion but others said that they would include other points. Now that the new Italian government is commited to withdrawing its troops from Iraq by late this year, I feel that there is more chance that the motion will succeed.

Introduction:
When even former US supporters of the war, such as Francis Fukuyama, admit that the war and occupation have been a disaster, it is time to leave the destiny of Iraq to be decided by its own people. The alternative is to continue a long and bloody conflict, which will only lead to the death of many more Iraqis and Europeans. While hopeful that the work of NGOs, peace makers and others will continue in Iraq and that the economic reconstruction of Iraq can begin in earnest, this cannot take place as long as the coalition forces which began the war remain in occupation of the country. The withdrawal of the European element of 'The Coalition of the Willing' is essential in order to restore good relations between the European states and the Arab world and to bring about peace in Iraq.

MOTION:
We call for the immediate withdrawal of UK and other European forces from Iraq. This is because of the abject failure of the coalition of forces which invaded Iraq illegally three years ago to provide firm and fair governance and security and the mounting evidence that their continuing presence in Iraq is leading to civil war and mounting casualties.

Proposer: Green Party of England & Wales plus other national parties

Joseph Healy