the following is a press release written by Leah Bolger following passage of "Troops Home" Resolution for the Common Dreams website and is reprinted here

Corvallis (OR) City Council Passes "Troops Home" Resolution

CORVALLIS, Oregon - February 21

By a vote of 7 to 2, the Corvallis City Council passed a resolution calling for the government to "commence planning an orderly, rapid and comprehensive withdrawal of U.S. military personnel from Iraq." The resolution also calls on the President and Congress to fully support returning troops with necessary health care and compensation and to supply the Iraqi people with non-military aid to rebuild their country. It will be sent to local, state and federal elected officials, including President Bush.

The citizens of Corvallis put forth the resolution after a petition drive begun by retired Navy veterans, Bart and Leah Bolger. The effort was sponsored by the local Democrat and Green Party chapters and a local peace movement, "Alternatives To War," which has held an anti-war vigil in downtown Corvallis every night since before the Iraq invasion in 2003.

The issue of a City Council resolution was hotly debated on the Op-Ed pages of the Corvallis newspaper and in emails to Councilors. Most in opposition argued that a resolution addressing national and foreign policy was outside the purview of the City Council. But the majority of Councilors commented during the approval hearing that every Corvallis citizen felt the economic and financial impact of the war in Iraq.

The sponsors are now working with other local groups and Oregon Peaceworks to help other Oregon communities pass similar resolutions.