Aldermen Oppose Buh's Iraq Plan

"Basically, it's an anti-war resolution," Alderman John Herrera said. "We don't support the current resolution Bush is trying to pass through Congress, where he just gets a blank check to do what he wants."

Alderman Joal Broun said that the town does not support Iraq's position but that Bush should create a coalition if he is going to make a pre-emptive strike against Iraq.

"No one on the board is opposed to a regime change in Iraq," she said. "What we are opposed to is a unilateral attack by the United States alone."

UNC political science Professor Mark Crescenzi, who was not at the meeting, said he thinks the resolution is a positive move by the town.

"Any form of community activism is useful feedback for the administration," he said. "Their stance appears to be in line with one of the predominant views in U.S. public opinion."

Craig Marks, professor of military science, said that he was surprised it took the town so long to take this stance but that he is not pleased with it.

"I've been in the military for 31 years, and I have supported people's rights ... and received cards from people thanking me for my work, only for the folks to stand there and voice opposition for everything we stand for," said Marks, who was not at the meeting.

The aldermen say they see things differently. Herrera said that Bush's case is very weak and that he has not proved that this war is needed.

"I think it's suicidal, and I think it will create more terror than we have today," he said. "Also, why Iraq? Iran poses more of a threat with weapons of mass destruction than Iraq."

Carrboro is following in the footsteps of Ithaca, N.Y., which passed a similar resolution earlier in the month.

"Carrboro has always been a vanguard of human rights," Broun said. "This is a continuation of our support of human rights around the world."

Herrera said the aldermen passed the resolution partly because people in the community are confused about what is happening with the proposed war.

"We wanted to make our stance because going to war will affect everyone in the community," he said.

Marks said Carrboro represents a group of people who have never had to deal with war, and he said perhaps if they ever did, their stance could change.

"In the countries I've been to that have been participants in longtime warfare, the people tend to have a more pragmatic approach to life," he said.

"(Carrboro residents) are the segment of people who believe in peace at any price, but you got to take a stand; sooner or later, enough's enough."

The City Editor can be reached at citydesk.unc.edu.