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Council rejects calls to rescind resolution urging pullout from Iraq

By Edgar Sanchez -- Bee Staff Writer Published 2:15 am PST Thursday, November 24, 2005

Despite intense national pressure, the Sacramento City Council held firm late Tuesday by refusing to rescind a resolution calling for "a humane, orderly, rapid and comprehensive withdrawal" of U.S. troops from Iraq.

During the meeting, council members revealed that they had been barraged with e-mails, phone calls and letters from across the nation since Nov. 1, when the measure was passed.

For the eight who had voted for it, most of the messages were demands that the council reconsider the matter.

Councilman Robbie Waters, however, received mostly thanks for his "no" vote as the lone dissenter.

On Tuesday, the council again heard from people on both sides of the issue - even though Iraq was not on the agenda.

There was no shortage of people wanting to speak, but because each side was given about 15 minutes to address the subject, only several residents took the microphone for each side.

"Opposition to the war only encourages terrorists to press harder against our troops," Mike Volkin, who served with the Army in Iraq until about a year and a half ago, told the council.

"Your resolution disheartens our own troops" added Volkin, 29, citing "the immense improvement" that he said Iraq has undergone "in such a short time."

"Honor your country, and vote to rescind the resolution," he said, to the applause of dozens of people.

Other speakers, including Deb Kronenberg, said the council should concentrate on local problems.

"I beg you to rescind this," Kronenberg said. "You are not the state. You are not the federal government."

She said she was proud that her son, Marine Pfc. Justin Michael Kronenberg, 27, will soon be deployed to Iraq.

"My son would tell you to say 'Semper Fi' - always, always be faithful," she said. "Are any of you?"

The other side spoke of its gratitude. (snip)