Resolutions Passed in 2001

Resolutions Passed in 2001

Support Of The President

WHEREAS: The United States of America founded and continually dedicated to freedom and justice for all, with charity to others in time of need, has been grossly violated by guests within its borders, murdering without warning thousands of its citizens, striking its centers of business and destroying elements of its military structure; and,

WHEREAS: The Nation is united in grief over the loss of life as a result of the attacks by these terrorists, including the lives of many firefighters, police officers and civilians while attempting to save others, and in recognition of those who are involved with the massive rescue and recovery operations; and,

WHEREAS: The President, in an eloquently articulated address to the Congress and the citizens of our United States of America, issued to all nations a directive demanding the surrender of these terrorists and all those who support, harbor, assist or in any way facilitate their activities. He further stated that these demands are not negotiable and are designed to rid the world of global terrorism; and,

WHEREAS: It is the determination of Congress that our President shall have the authority to take whatever action he deems necessary to accomplish this end.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That The Military Order of the World Wars conveys to the President and Congress our unanimous agreement with, and unwavering commitment to, the President’s directive and its execution.

The Korean Defense Service Medal

WHEREAS, although full-scale hostilities ended on the Korean peninsula in 1954 with the signing of an armistice, more than 1,200 United States servicemen have been killed along the DMZ in clashes with North Korean troops during the 47 year truce period that U.S. forces have assisted in defending South Korea; and,

WHEREAS, the Korean War Service Medal is currently awarded to American veterans who served in Korea during the Korean War period from 1950-1954; and,

WHEREAS, there is no service award, such as a Korean Defense Service Medal, recognizing the nearly two million American service members and veterans who have participated, and continue to participate, in defending the Republic of Korea during the extended cease-fire period following the Korean War.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Military Order of the World Wars, in National Convention, Columbia, South Carolina, 25-29 July 2001, urges Congress and the Department of Defense to authorize the funding and presenting of the Korean Defense Service Medal to those United States military personnel and veterans who served, and continue to serve, in defending the Republic of Korea between July 28, 1954, and the present.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we urge the President and Congress that any military personnel who, cannot reach assigned voting places be able to vote by absentee ballot with assurance that it will be counted.

Voting by Military Personnel

WHEREAS, voting, essential to a free and democratic society, is a matter of pride and moral among military personnel who are deployed in foreign places or otherwise kept from the polls by assigned duties; and,

WHEREAS, sustained high levels of morale are conducive to maintenance of readiness and effective performance by the forces guarding our national security; and,

WHEREAS, military personnel and their families should be protected from losing their vote, based upon technicalities, which are beyond their control,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Military Order of the World Wars, in National Convention, Columbia, South Carolina, 25-29 July 2001, remind all election officials and oversight authority of the importance of moral in the military; and,

National Missile Defense

WHEREAS, The Military Order of the World Wars has long supported early development and deployment of a national missile defense system, and,

WHEREAS, The National Intelligence Estimate was revised in mid-2000 to assert that: “the probability that a missile with a weapon of mass destruction will be used against United States forces or interests are higher today than during most of the Cold War, and will continue to grow,” and “that during the next fifteen years the United States will face ICBM threats from Russia, China and North Korea, probably from Iran, and possibly from Iraq,” and,

WHEREAS, the Soviet Union and its successor Russian led federation have deployed and are continuing to modernize their own sophisticated nuclear armed national missile defense system, which protects Moscow and 60% of the Russian heartland; while the United States has yet to build and deploy a comparable missile defense system, and,

WHEREAS, the United States remains vulnerable and defenseless to hostile missile attack. By clinging to an outmoded treaty that we signed in 1972 with the old Soviet Union , which no longer exists, and which prevents us from building missile defense, despite that fact that the Soviets and Russians have violated this treaty many times.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the General Staff of the Military Order of the World Wars, in session in Baltimore, Maryland, 18-20 January 2001, express to the President and Congress that The Military Order of the World Wars supports fully the deployment of a National Missile Defense as soon as technologically ready.

1998 Treaty of Rome Establishing the International Criminal Court

WHEREAS, the Government of the United States of America in ordering members of its Armed Forces to serve abroad should not abrogate its responsibility for providing them with continued equal protection under the law as provided for and required by the Constitution of the United States; and

WHEREAS, traditionally this has been assured by agreement with each country wherein such members have been stationed or deployed; and

WHEREAS, such agreements have of necessity been bilateral in order to address differences in cultures, laws, legal systems and processes – shifting if and where necessary some indemnity from the service member to the United States Government in order to respect local requirements while keeping any disciplinary or criminal remedial action with the jurisdiction of the United States; and

WHEREAS, currently the United States Government is a signatory to the 1998 Treaty of Rome, which places all out-of-country citizens, including military personnel, under the jurisdiction of an International Criminal Court.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the General Staff of the Military Order of the World Wars, in session in Baltimore , Maryland , 18-20 January 2001, request the President to withdraw subscription to the 1998 Treaty of Rome.