Teaneckers for and against Iraq war debate call to quit

BRIAN ABERBACK, STAFF WRITER
The Record (Bergen County, NJ)
12-13-2006

Teaneckers for and against Iraq war debate call to quit -- Council is asked to endorse a peace mandate
By BRIAN ABERBACK, STAFF WRITER
Date: 12-13-2006, Wednesday
Section: LOCAL
Edtion: All Editions

TEANECK — Peace advocates and veterans groups squared off Tuesday evening over a request that the Township Council pass a resolution asking Congress for the "prompt" withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.

The nationwide Mandate for Peace initiative was drafted in response to last month's congressional elections, which were considered by some to be a call to end the war.

The Teaneck Peace and Justice Coalition and the Bergen County chapter of the national group Military Families Speak Out asked the Teaneck Council to pass the resolution.

"I plead with you to please take a stand," said resident Paula Rogovin, a member of both groups whose son is a Marine and is scheduled to go to Iraq early next year.

"[The troops] didn't volunteer to be in an illegal war," Rogovin said. "They didn't volunteer to be misused in this occupation of Iraq."

The resolution, which also calls for Congress to "discontinue funding for military purposes in Iraq except the safe withdrawal of all U.S. forces," has yet to be adopted by any New Jersey town, according to the Mandate for Peace Web site.

Veterans and others who attended Tuesday's meeting hope Teaneck isn't the first.

"It really bothers me to have to remind people that we are at war," said Lenny Hennig, commander of Teaneck Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1429 and vice commander of Teaneck American Legion Post 128.

"We are fighting against people who are against freedom," Hennig said. "We sleep well at night because soldiers stand watch over our freedoms."

Former Mayor Frank Hall, a World War II Marine Corps veteran, said the council should not be voting on national matters.

"I don't remember anyone's election platform being to appoint a defense secretary for Teaneck," Hall said. "None of you has the right to represent me in international matters as a council."

Other residents disagreed.

"This is no longer an issue of jurisdiction," said Ronald Schwartz. "This is an issue of humans caring about other humans, and getting up and saying this death and destruction has to stop."

The issue was still being debated as of 9:30 p.m.

This is not the first time Teaneck has debated the merits of the Iraq war and the war against terror.

The council was asked shortly before the March 2003 invasion of Iraq to pass a resolution against the war. It declined, saying that the council chambers were not the proper forum to debate a national issue.

Two years later the council refused a request that it oppose a section of the USA Patriot Act that gives federal agents the power to seize library, bookstore and Internet records.

Other towns have also tackled the Iraq war debate recently.

The Fair Lawn Council approved a milder resolution last month that asks the New Jersey congressional delegation to push for the creation of a bipartisan committee that would draft a withdrawal plan from Iraq. The resolution does not specify a timetable.

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E-mail: aberback@northjersey.com

Illustrations/Photos: 2 PHOTOS - DON SMITH / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER - Paula Rogovin, left, wants Teaneck to call for the prompt withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. Leonard Hennig, right, reminded the council that "we are fighting against people who are against freedom."
Keywords: TEANECK, IRAQ WAR, REFERENDUM

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