Expresses the need for a comprehensive diplomatic initiative led by the United States, the Republic of Iraq, and the international community to ensure the establishment of a cohesive government in Iraq.
Expresses condolences to the number of Iraqis who have been killed, displaced, or wounded.
Recognizes that the U.S. government owes a debt of gratitude to the men and women who have served in Iraq and who now deserve comprehensive rehabilitation and assistance.
[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 288 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. CON. RES. 288
Expressing the need for a more comprehensive diplomatic initiative led
by the United States, Republic of Iraq, and international community.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 6, 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,
and Ms. Kaptur) 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, Republic of Iraq, and 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 including Iraq's neighboring states,
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, 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 its neighboring states thereby affecting the balance of
power in the region;
Whereas elements and actions from outside Iraq's borders, including neighboring
states, 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,
have found it difficult to achieve political reconciliation and
independently govern;
Whereas the Iraq Study Group stated, ``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 ``any
student of history recognizes there is no military solution to a problem
like that in Iraq, to the insurgency in Iraq'';
Whereas finding a responsible and strategic way forward in Iraq will require
international support; and
Whereas 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:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That the United States House of Representatives--
(1) declares that the current drawdown and eventual
departure of the United States Armed Forces in Iraq be
performed in a strategic and responsible manner, and must be
supported by a comprehensive international and regional
diplomatic initiative;
(2) encourages the President and the administration jointly
with the Republic of Iraq to initiate, develop, and implement a
sustained comprehensive regional and multilateral diplomatic
plan of action, in conjunction with the United Nations Security
Council, United Nations Secretary General, Iraq's neighboring
countries, regional organizations as the Arab League, the
Organization of the Islamic Conference, and appropriate non-
governmental 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 various insurgency groups;
(C) preventing the spread of violence from Iraq
into neighboring countries;
(D) preventing genocide, ethnic cleansing, and
other crimes against humanity;
(E) preventing the establishment of safe havens for
Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations; and
(F) supporting the formation of an international
consortium for relief and reconstruction in Iraq;
(3) urges the President and the administration jointly with
the Republic of Iraq, United Nations, and regional
organizations to expeditiously engage in bilateral and
multilateral talks and conferences with Iraq's neighboring
states, 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 [Iraq International] 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'';
(4) remains resolved that the interests of the people of
Iraq, United States allies, and greater Middle East region
should be paramount in establishing regional and international
assistance and aid to ensure the establishment of a cohesive
government in Iraq;
(5) encourages the international community and regional
organizations to assist the Republic of Iraq in recruiting an
armed multinational stabilization force from countries
acceptable to the Republic of Iraq, to train Iraqi Security
Forces, foster political reconciliation, and to the extent
feasible police human rights violations;
(6) recognizes that as part of a diplomatic initiative in
Iraq, the President shall submit to the Congress, in classified
and unclassified form, a comprehensive regional stability plan
for Iraq, which shall include diplomatic, political, and
economic strategic measures;
(7) urges sustained commitment of the Republic of Iraq,
United States, nations in the Middle East, and 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 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) ensuring the equitable distribution of oil
revenues to the people of Iraq; and
(F) encouraging initiatives to assist in rebuilding
Iraq's infrastructure, including public health,
transportation, physical plants, educational, and
utilities systems;
(8) expresses its sincere condolences to the number of
Iraqis who have been killed, displaced, or wounded; and
(9) recognizes that the government of the United States
owes a debt of gratitude to the 500,000 young men and women who
have served in Iraq and who now deserve comprehensive
rehabilitation, physical, mental, educational, and economic
assistance.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
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.
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.
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.
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