[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 321 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. CON. RES. 321
Expressing the need for a more comprehensive diplomatic initiative led
by the United States, Iraq, and the international community.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 2, 2008
Mr. Gilchrest (for himself, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Jones of North Carolina,
Mr. Meeks of New York, Mr. Johnson of Illinois, Mr. Murtha, Mr. Reyes,
Mr. Shays, Mr. English of Pennsylvania, Ms. Kaptur, and Ms. Baldwin)
submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on
Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the need for a more comprehensive diplomatic initiative led
by the United States, Iraq, and the international community.
Whereas it is in the foreign policy and national security interests of the
United States to foster and strengthen peace and security in Iraq and
the broader Middle East region, which will require a more comprehensive
international support structure involving Iraq's neighboring countries,
other pertinent and influential countries in and outside the region,
international organizations, and nongovernmental organizations;
Whereas the removal of Saddam Hussein has resulted in a fundamental change in
the composition and structure of Iraq's Government, and of provincial
and tribal leadership;
Whereas the removal of Saddam Hussein has resulted in violent multi-layered
conflicts of varying insurgencies, counter-insurgencies, and other armed
competitions that exist today along religious, cultural, and economic
lines;
Whereas the removal of Saddam Hussein has fundamentally altered the relationship
between Iraq and neighboring countries, thereby affecting the balance of
power in the region;
Whereas the removal of Saddam Hussein has resulted in the democratic election of
the Government of Iraq where nearly 7,000,000 Iraqis participated in the
voting process;
Whereas elements and actions from outside Iraq's borders, including neighboring
countries, terrorist groups, and rogue elements continue to impede
progress towards a more stable and sovereign Iraq;
Whereas Iraqis, with the unrelenting military support from the United States,
are facing difficulties to achieve political reconciliation and to
independently govern;
Whereas the Iraq Study Group stated that ``a regional peace conference among
Arab nations is a critically important step in helping to end the civil
war in Iraq, and bringing peace and stability in the Middle East'';
Whereas General Petraeus recently stated in congressional testimony that ``any
student of history recognizes there is no military solution to a problem
like that in Iraq, to the insurgency in Iraq''; and
Whereas finding a responsible and strategic way forward in Iraq will require
international support: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That Congress--
(1) declares that a more comprehensive international
support structure must be established to engage Iraq's
political, religious, ethnic, and tribal leaders in an ongoing
inclusive political reconciliation and reconstruction process;
(2) declares that the current drawdown and eventual
departure of the United States Armed Forces in Iraq be
performed in a strategic and responsible manner, in
consultation with the Government of Iraq, and must be supported
by a comprehensive international and regional diplomatic
initiative;
(3) encourages the President and the administration,
jointly with Iraq, to initiate, develop, and implement a
sustained comprehensive regional and multilateral diplomatic
plan of action, in conjunction with the United Nations Security
Council, the United Nations Secretary General, Iraq's
neighboring countries, regional organizations as the Arab
League, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and
appropriate nongovernmental organizations, relating to issues
and actions that impact the situation in Iraq, including--
(A) promoting a national process of reconciliation
within Iraq;
(B) curtailing the ongoing civil strife in Iraq
that has created insurgency groups amongst civilian
militias and related civil organizations;
(C) preventing the spread of violence from Iraq
into neighboring countries and fostering a collective
security arrangement between Iraq with neighboring
countries to secure Iraq's sovereign integrity and
border security;
(D) preventing genocide, ethnic cleansing, and
other crimes against humanity;
(E) preventing the establishment of safe havens for
al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations;
(F) continuing to provide assistance to the Iraqi
Security Forces, including military training,
education, equipment and technical support, and to
encourage the United Nations and regional allies to
support this coordinated effort if the Iraqi Government
supports this strategic arrangement; and
(G) supporting the formation of an international
consortium for relief and reconstruction in Iraq;
(4) urges the President and the administration, jointly
with Iraq, the United Nations, and regional organizations, to
expeditiously engage in bilateral and multilateral talks and
conferences with Iraq's neighboring countries, and
specifically--
(A) recommends the implementation of the
International Compact for Iraq and recommendations 9
and 13 of the Iraq Study Group Report, including--
(i) implementing recommendation 9, which
states, ``Under the aegis of the New Diplomatic
Offensive and the Support Group, the United
States should engage directly with Iran and
Syria in order to try to obtain their
commitment to constructive policies toward Iraq
and other regional issues. In engaging with
Syria and Iran, the United States should
consider incentives, as well as disincentives,
in seeking constructive results''; and
(ii) implementing recommendation 13, which
states, ``There must be a renewed and sustained
commitment by the United States to a
comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace on all
fronts'';
(5) remains resolved that the interests of the people of
Iraq, United States allies, and the greater Middle East region
should be paramount in establishing regional and international
assistance and aid to ensure the unity and integrity of Iraq so
as to safeguard the establishment of a cohesive government in
Iraq;
(6) encourages the international community, regional
organizations, and the United States, in consultation with the
Government of Iraq, to continue efforts to strengthen the Iraqi
Security Forces and, to the extent practicable, to police human
rights violations;
(7) recognizes that as part of a diplomatic initiative in
Iraq, the President should transmit to the Congress, in
classified and unclassified form, a comprehensive regional
stability plan for Iraq, which shall include diplomatic,
political, and economic strategic measures;
(8) urges sustained commitment of Iraq, the United States,
countries in the Middle East, and the international community,
in consultation with the United Nations and pertinent regional
and non-governmental organizations, to develop and raise
funding for the reconstruction of Iraq and to provide relief to
the Iraqi people, including for purposes of--
(A) assisting efforts to deal with the humanitarian
impact of the war in Iraq, particularly civilian
displacement and Iraqi refugees;
(B) developing an Iraq corps of engineers;
(C) encouraging the use of Iraqi engineers,
contractors, tradesmen, and construction workers in the
reconstruction process;
(D) surveying and performing proper restoration of
Iraq's world cultural sites;
(E) supporting efforts by the Iraqi Government for
an equitable distribution of oil revenues to the Iraqi
people; and
(F) encouraging initiatives to assist in rebuilding
Iraq's infrastructure, including public health,
transportation, physical plants, educational, and
utilities systems;
(9) expresses its deep and sincere gratitude to the
coalition forces and other international supporters for their
contribution and sacrifice in the collective efforts to bring
peace and stability to Iraq;
(10) expresses its sincere condolences to the families of
the many Iraqis who have died, and to the many Iraqis who have
been displaced or wounded in their struggle to gain a measure
of freedom; and
(11) recognizes that the United States Government and the
American people owe a debt of gratitude to the young men and
women who have honorably served in Iraq and now deserve
comprehensive rehabilitation, physical, mental, educational,
and economic assistance.
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