SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) Whereas, The United States is now into the fifth year of a war in Iraq with no end in sight; and
(b) Whereas, On May 1, 2003, President Bush declared the “end of major combat operations” in Iraq, yet tragic military and civilian casualties and injuries in Iraq continue, with the fourth year of this conflict resulting in the greatest number of casualties and injuries; and
(c) Whereas, Despite the deaths of more than 3,700 American men and women in our Armed Forces, and the injury of more than 27,000 Americans, President George W. Bush has refused to
begin a safe and orderly withdrawal of American soldiers from Iraq; and
(d) Whereas, Civilian casualties in Iraq have been significant, with more than 70,000 civilian Iraqi men, women, and children killed, and many more wounded or displaced from their homes; and
(e) Whereas, Hostilities in Iraq have continued for more than four years, requiring the expenditure of more than $350,000,000,000, an amount that has forced the federal government to devote fewer resources to properly funding schools, health systems, homeland security, and other vital domestic needs; and
(f) Whereas, More than 400 Californians have been among the service members killed in the Iraq conflict, more than any other state, and thousands more Californians, including more than 800 members of California’s National Guard, remain deployed in Iraq and at
grave risk; and
(g) Whereas, The widely respected and bipartisan Iraq Study Group recommended that the United States withdraw its Armed Forces from Iraq by early 2008; and
(h) Whereas, In spite of a growing consensus among experienced and respected military officials, diplomats, scholars, and the American public that the time has come to begin the safe and orderly withdrawal of United States Armed Forces, the Bush Administration has chosen instead to jeopardize the safety of additional personnel with an ill-conceived “surge”, an increase in the number of troops deployed to Iraq; and
(i) Whereas, Despite the best efforts and tremendous sacrifices made by service members and their families, the continued presence of United States Armed Forces will not lead to peace and stability in Iraq or the Middle East.
(j) Therefore, in support of the men and women serving in the United States Armed Forces in Iraq, this act provides the people of California the opportunity to voice their heartfelt concerns and to be heard at the ballot on this critical issue.