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2 <br />Excerpt from APPROVED November 16, 2010 BOCC Minutes <br />b. Resolution Regarding Afghanistan War and Warfare Funding <br />The Board considered adopting a resolution regarding the Afghanistan War and <br />warfare funding. <br />There were two resolutions before the Board for consideration. One was the <br />original resolution from a citizen, Mark Marcoplos, and the second was a resolution <br />written by Commissioner Gordon. <br />Frank Clifton said that this issue was before the Board before and was brought <br />forward by a citizen. The Board offered revisions, and these have been incorporated in <br />this item. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that she had presented a revised resolution for <br />consideration if the Board decided to pass a resolution. She wanted a resolution that <br />acknowledged the service of the brave men and women who are serving our country in <br />Afghanistan and also the human life that has been lost. She said that this resolution is <br />similar to one that the Board of County Commissioners passed several years ago <br />concerning the Iraq war. She said that there should also be an exit strategy for the <br />Afghanistan war. She wants to put an emphasis on the human cost of the war. She <br />noted that her nephew had served three tours of duty in Iraq as a Marine helicopter pilot <br />flying casualty evacuation missions. <br />PUBLIC COMMENT: <br />Tim Suko said that when he got out of college he joined an organization whose <br />purpose was to support people such as the author of this resolution. He said that he <br />served in the armed forces for 26 years and he missed many family events over the <br />years. He appreciated Commissioner Cordon's comments because it is a family- <br />oriented issue. He said that the families suffer the most. He said that the people that <br />serve in the armed forces do serve voluntarily and he does not think that they would take <br />issue with the author's taking a stand on the issue. He disagrees with the statement that <br />there would be no identified public benefits by the service of the men and women in <br />Afghanistan for the last nine years. He said that if this statement were left in the <br />resolution it would be a slap in the face to anyone that has ever worn. a military uniform. <br />He said that the President has stated that a positive conclusion of the war in Afghanistan <br />is within the vital interests of the United States. He said that the President feels that <br />what the United States is doing over there is necessary and is of vital interest to the <br />country. He suggested that the author write a letter to the President rather than a <br />resolution. He recommended that the County Commissioners reject this resolution. <br />Mark Marcoplos thanked the County Commissioners for recognizing the human <br />costs of war. He said that the American public has come to understand that there are no <br />public benefits to war. He said that a recent CNN poll found that this war reminds <br />people of Vietnam and the United States needs to get out. He read an email that he <br />sent to the Board of County Commissioners earlier today. <br />°The number one issue that arises for local governments in a request that <br />communicates something related to foreign policy to the federal or state government is <br />whether or not it is appropriate. So, I hope that when you vote tonight, you stand up in <br />support of the use of Orange County taxpayer money for the Afghan war and express <br />your belief that there isn't an expenditure that is more valuable to us than local <br />educational funding, social services, environmental protection, business propagation; or <br />that you stand tall with the majority of County citizens who oppose the war, who <br />understand the staggering waste of resources and human life, who understand that our <br />