This resolution was introduced by Robin Hess in King County, Washington, and it has passed the King County Democratic Central Committee and the Washington State Democratic Central Committee. We need a new direction in US Foreign Policy, and it's time we organized and developed that direction, from the grassroots.

I'm sharing the text of the resolution here and a few other places to get the ball rolling.

Resolution on a First Step in a New, Positive Direction for U.S. Foreign Policy

WHEREAS, ever since the destruction of the World Trade Center, George W. Bush has used that event as reason for pursuing his "War on Terror," invading and occupying Afghanistan and Iraq; and

WHEREAS, this has resulted in 26,000+ U.S. casualties, including more than 3,600 deaths, plus inflicted suffering on their families and friends; and

WHEREAS, over 3,400 Afghans and 655,000 Iraqis have died unnecessarily, and over two million displaced; and

WHEREAS, these military actions have done nothing to reduce the strength of those who destroyed the World Trade Center; and

WHEREAS, these military actions have caused more hatred of the United States and increased the number of people flocking daily to Iraq to resist violently; and

WHEREAS, the costs to U.S. taxpayers have already been 369 billion dollars; and

WHEREAS, by spending one quarter of that same amount of money to help the half of the world that is hungry, homeless, unhealthy, poorly clothed and poorly educated, we would

a) Go a long way toward eliminating those hardships,

b) Engender respect and friendship towards the United States,

c) Encourage the spread of democracy and human rights, and

d) Begin to introduce a new era of peace and freedom for the world;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Washington State Democratic Central Committee urges Congressmen Inslee, McDermott, and Smith, and US Senators Murray and Cantwell to initiate a move for the United States to lead, instead of military interventions, a world-wide effort to promote adequate health, food, housing, clothing and education, working toward a program of cooperation among all nations; and

FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Washington State Democratic Central Committee passes this resolution on to the State and National Central Committees of the Democratic Party; and

FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Washington State Democratic Central Committee forms a committee to implement the above, and plan a method of giving wide publicity to this action.

Submitted by the King County Democratic Central Committee to the Washington State Democratic Central Committee for consideration at its April 28, 2007 meeting in Bellingham. Passed at the WSDCC.