[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 397 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 397

   Expressing the sense of the Senate on the transition of Iraq to a 
                  constitutionally elected government.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 24, 2004

   Mr. Frist (for himself, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Sessions, Mr. 
 Lieberman, Mr. Graham of South Carolina, and Mr. Biden) submitted the 
        following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing the sense of the Senate on the transition of Iraq to a 
                  constitutionally elected government.

Whereas June 30, 2004, marks Iraq's assumption of sovereignty and the beginning 
        of the transition of Iraq to a free and constitutionally elected 
        government, which is to be established by December 31, 2005;
Whereas the Senate congratulates the Iraqi people, expresses its appreciation to 
        the Iraqi Interim Government, and reaffirms the United States desire for 
        the people of Iraq to live in peace and freedom;
Whereas the successful transition of Iraq to a constitutionally elected 
        government requires that Iraq develop the capacity to provide security 
        to its citizens, defend its borders, deliver essential services, create 
        a transparent and credible political process, and set the conditions for 
        economic prosperity;
Whereas the people of Iraq have a long tradition of cultural and technological 
        achievement and a talented and dedicated population;
Whereas the United States desires peace and prosperity for the citizens of Iraq;
Whereas more than three decades of dictatorial rule have deprived the people of 
        Iraq of the benefits of that tradition and history, caused extraordinary 
        personal suffering, and robbed the people of Iraq of the opportunity to 
        reach their full potential;
Whereas establishing security is a prerequisite to the successful transition to 
        democracy and reconstruction of Iraq;
Whereas providing security to the people of Iraq will require a well-trained and 
        well-equipped police force, a professional military accountable to 
        civilian leadership, the disbanding of militias, and a fair and 
        efficient judicial system;
Whereas the current program to train and equip Iraq security services could 
        benefit from better vetting of candidates, expanded training time, 
        follow-on field training with experienced police and military 
        professionals, and the accelerated provision of equipment and resources;
Whereas the administration of the institutions of government and the delivery of 
        essential services in Iraq will require technical expertise and training 
        not yet fully developed in Iraq;
Whereas Iraq faces a shortage of essential services, including sanitation, safe 
        water, and a reliable supply of electricity;
Whereas economic prosperity in Iraq will require viable financial institutions, 
        conditions that encourage private investment, and the significant 
        reduction of foreign debt incurred by the regime of Saddam Hussein;
Whereas the people of Iraq were the victims of three decades of economic 
        mismanagement under the regime of Saddam Hussein, and have inherited 
        $120,000,000,000 in debt incurred by that regime;
Whereas Prime Minister Allawi has requested assistance from the international 
        community to aid in the rebuilding and security of Iraq, including 
        assistance from the neighbors of Iraq to improve intelligence-sharing 
        and to tighten controls of the borders with Iraq in order to prevent the 
        infiltration of terrorists and illicit goods, and assistance from the 
        North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to train and equip Iraqi 
        Security Forces;
Whereas the international community, through a unanimous vote of the United 
        Nations Security Council in Resolution 1546 (2004), called on United 
        Nations member states and international and regional organizations to 
        contribute to a multinational force in Iraq and a dedicated force to 
        provide security for the United Nations presence in Iraq, to help Iraq 
        build the capability of its security forces and governing institutions, 
        to aid in rebuilding the capacity for governance in Iraq, and to commit 
        additional resources to reconstruct and develop the economy of Iraq;
Whereas since the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1546, 
        some members of the international community who have long expressed 
        concern for the plight of the people of Iraq, and who voted for the 
        adoption of the Resolution in the Security Council, have failed to 
        respond to the urgent needs of the people of Iraq;
Whereas improved security in Iraq and the increased capacity of the people of 
        Iraq to provide essential services will reduce the burdens on United 
        States military personnel in the region;
Whereas the United States supports the determination of the Iraqi Interim 
        Government to defeat the loyalists to Saddam Hussein, radical militias, 
        common criminals, and terrorists who make up the insurgency in Iraq;
Whereas the United States is committed to assisting Iraq in reasserting its full 
        sovereignty, consistent with United Nations Security Council Resolution 
        1546;
Whereas the Senate acknowledges the efforts and sacrifices of the Armed Forces, 
        other employees of the United States Government, contractors, and their 
        counterparts in the coalition to promote Iraq's security, recovery, and 
        transition; and
Whereas the United States and other members of the international community have 
        a profound stake in the success of the transition of Iraq to a 
        constitutionally elected government: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) the members of the Armed Forces and their families have 
        performed courageously and nobly and have earned the deep 
        gratitude of the people of the United States;
            (2) success in Iraq is a global priority and therefore 
        demands cooperation from all states and international 
        organizations;
            (3) states and international organizations should fulfill 
        their commitments to contribute what resources and skills they 
        can to the establishment and security of an independent Iraq 
        with a constitutionally elected government;
            (4) states and international organizations should fulfill 
        the financial commitments they have already made to the 
        reconstruction of Iraq;
            (5) the international community should establish, to the 
        highest standards, additional police training academies inside 
        and outside of Iraq, contribute additional trainers to those 
        academies, and dedicate experienced police to train Iraq police 
        officers in the field;
            (6) the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is 
        uniquely qualified to respond to the call for assistance in 
        United Nations Security Council Resolution 1546 (2004) to meet 
        the needs of the people of Iraq for security and stability, 
        including by assisting in training the Iraq military, providing 
        security for elections in Iraq, and helping secure the borders 
        of Iraq and should, therefore, respond positively to the 
        request of Interim Iraqi Prime Minister Allawi to provide 
        training, equipment, and other forms of technical assistance 
        that his government determines is appropriate to help Iraq's 
        security forces defeat terrorism and reduce Iraq's reliance on 
        foreign forces;
            (7) in order to ensure that the United Nations can play the 
        leading role called for by United Nations Security Council 
        Resolution 1546, member states should contribute additional 
        military and security forces, and other resources as 
        appropriate, to provide security for a United Nations presence 
        in Iraq;
            (8) countries unable to contribute security personnel to 
        help stabilize Iraq should contribute to the transition of Iraq 
        in other ways, including by providing technical experts, civil 
        engineers, municipal management advisers, and to fill other 
        needs requested by the Iraqi government;
            (9) countries holding debt incurred under the Saddam 
        Hussein regime should meaningfully reduce amounts of that debt;
            (10) the United States is committed to a free and peaceful 
        Iraq; and
            (11) it is appropriate to thank coalition partners and 
        other countries that have helped promote security, stability, 
        reconstruction, and democracy in Iraq.
                                 <all>