[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S.J. Res. 36 Introduced in Senate (IS)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. J. RES. 36

Providing a strategy for stabilizing Iraq and withdrawing United States 
                                troops.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 8, 2006

  Mr. Kerry introduced the following joint resolution; which was read 
        twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
Providing a strategy for stabilizing Iraq and withdrawing United States 
                                troops.

Whereas the men and women of the Armed Forces have performed with valor, honor, 
        and courage in Iraq;
Whereas a national unity government and a comprehensive political agreement 
        among Shias, Sunnis, and Kurds are essential to end sectarian violence, 
        undermine the insurgency, and bring stability to Iraq;
Whereas, on April 22, 2006, the Iraqi National Assembly approved senior leaders 
        of a national unity government, including Jawad al-Mailiki as Prime 
        Minister;
Whereas, under the Iraqi constitution, the Prime Minister has 30 days to form a 
        government;
Whereas a comprehensive political agreement must resolve fundamental issues 
        dividing Iraqis and undermining stability, including federalism, oil 
        revenues, the militias, security guarantees, reconstruction, and border 
        security;
Whereas reaching a comprehensive agreement that will help bring stability to 
        Iraq is in the best interests of Iraq's neighbors, the region, and the 
        international community;
Whereas Iraq's neighbors, representatives of the Arab League, and the 
        international community as represented by NATO, the European Union, and 
        the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council can assist 
        in the process of bringing about such a comprehensive agreement;
Whereas the commander of the Multinational Forces-Iraq, General George Casey, 
        testified before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate on 
        September 29, 2005, that ``[i]ncreased coalition presence feeds the 
        notion of occupation ... contributes to the dependency of Iraqi security 
        forces on the coalition ... [and] ... extends the amount of time that it 
        will take for Iraqi security forces to become self-reliant'';
Whereas the overwhelming majority of Iraqis wants the United States forces to 
        withdraw from Iraq;
Whereas the Armed Forces have established a training program for the security 
        forces of Iraq that continues to make possible the assumption of 
        security responsibilities by such security forces; and
Whereas the withdrawal of United States forces under a schedule agreed upon with 
        the new Government of Iraq would strengthen and legitimize that 
        government, enable the Iraqis to become more self-reliant, and undermine 
        support for the insurgency: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That--
            (1) United States forces shall be withdrawn from Iraq at 
        the earliest practicable date if Iraqis fail to form a national 
        unity government by May 22, 2006;
            (2) if Iraqis form a national unity government by May 22, 
        2006--
                    (A) the United States shall reach an agreement as 
                soon as possible with such government on a schedule for 
                the withdrawal of United States combat troops from Iraq 
                by December 31, 2006, leaving only forces that are 
                critical to completing the mission of standing up Iraqi 
                security forces; and
                    (B) the President shall consult with Congress on 
                this schedule and shall present such withdrawal 
                agreement to Congress immediately upon completion of 
                the agreement;
            (3) the President, not later than 30 days after the date of 
        the formation of a new national unity government in Iraq, 
        should convene a summit that includes the leaders of that 
        government, leaders of the governments of each country 
        bordering Iraq, representatives of the Arab League, the 
        Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, 
        representatives of the European Union, and leaders of the 
        governments of each permanent member of the United Nations 
        Security Council, for the purpose of reaching a comprehensive 
        political agreement for Iraq that addresses fundamental issues 
        including federalism, oil revenues, the militias, security 
        guarantees, reconstruction, economic assistance, and border 
        security; and
            (4) the United States should maintain an over-the-horizon 
        military presence to prosecute the war on terror and protect 
        regional security interests.
                                 <all>