Even UCLA students adamantly against the war in Iraq generally
still strongly support the U.S. troops in Iraq.
But the question that arose at the Undergraduate Students
Association Council meeting Tuesday night was whether a resolution
intended to support the troops could actually end up being a
resolution in support of war.
In this case, council said it could.
A resolution intended to support U.S. troops in Iraq was
overwhelmingly rejected by council Tuesday night due to what some
called the resolution’s pro-war slant.
USAC voted against the resolution that called for support of the
troops in name with a 2-8-0 vote.
Authored by Facilities Commissioner Adam Pearlman, the
resolution stated that “independent of one’s opinion
regarding the administrative decisions that lead to war … (USAC)
hopes to see (the troops) home as soon as possible.”
But most councilmembers said they did not disagree with those
two provisions. It was everything in between that led to heated
discussion around the table.
Councilmembers expressed their concerns with the part of the
resolution that indicated support of the troops’
“mission.”
“Some of the language hinted at supporting the war,”
said Campus Events Commissioner Ryan Wilson.
“I am not opposed to the sentiment to support the sanctity
of human life … I am just also in support of the lives of the
Iraqi people,” Wilson said.
But Pearlman argued that he did not have the intention of
supporting the war, adding that USAC had already expressed its
support for the Iraqi people in the anti-war resolution they passed
fall quarter.
“This resolution is not trying to take anything away from
(the previous resolution) … but we already singled out the Iraqi
civilians,” Pearlman said.
Council also needs to recognize the efforts of the troops,
Pearlman said, adding that he has a cousin in the Navy who was
about to be deployed.
But student leaders who attended the meeting voiced their
opinions against the resolution even though they said they
supported the troops.
The language implies that soldiers have a choice to fight, when
a lot of them don’t, said Yousef Tajsar, a leader of the
Peace and Justice Coalition.
“The only choice they have is joining the military or
staying in the streets,” Tajsar said.
But General Representative Adam Harmetz, the only other
affirmative vote besides Pearlman, said the resolution was
important as a symbolic gesture.
“I wanted something that specifically supported the
troops,” Harmetz said.
Pearlman said those who had concerns should have approached him
before the meeting. The resolution had been tabled last week for
exactly that reason, but no councilmembers helped him revise the
first draft, Pearlman said.