[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 171 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 171

Expressing the sense of the Senate that the President should submit to 
Congress a report on the time frame for the withdrawal of United States 
                           troops from Iraq.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 14, 2005

Mr. Feingold submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                    the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the Senate that the President should submit to 
Congress a report on the time frame for the withdrawal of United States 
                           troops from Iraq.

Whereas United States forces in Iraq have served with courage and distinction 
        and they and their families deserve to know what exactly their mission 
        is and approximately how long they may expect to remain in Iraq;
Whereas establishing time frames for the transfer of sovereignty and for 
        elections in Iraq has resulted in real political and strategic 
        advantages for the United States and has advanced the development of 
        democracy in Iraq;
Whereas establishing a clear time frame for the withdrawal of United States 
        troops from Iraq would help to refute conspiracy theories and eliminate 
        suspicions that obstruct the United States policy goals in Iraq and 
        undermine the legitimacy of the Government of Iraq;
Whereas President George W. Bush stated on April 13, 2004 that ``as a proud and 
        independent people, Iraqis do not support an indefinite occupation and 
        neither does America'' and that United States troops will remain in Iraq 
        ``as long as necessary and not one day more'';
Whereas a sound strategic plan for United States military operations in Iraq 
        would include information regarding the numbers of Iraqi troops that 
        must be effectively trained and the amount of time that will be required 
        to train them;
Whereas the President has declined to set out specific goals for the United 
        States military operations in Iraq or a clear time frame for achieving 
        such goals;
Whereas a clear plan and time frame for United States military operations in 
        Iraq would facilitate more responsible budgeting for the costs of United 
        States operations in Iraq; and
Whereas confusion about the United States mission in Iraq does not serve the 
        United States vital interests in establishing stability in Iraq or 
        fighting the terrorist networks that continue to threaten the United 
        States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That--
            (1) the Senate--
                    (A) supports the men and women of the Armed Forces 
                of the United States in Iraq and deeply appreciates 
                their admirable service; and
                    (B) recognizes that stability, democracy, and 
                respect for the rule of law in Iraq are in the United 
                States national interest; and
            (2) it is the sense of the Senate that--
                    (A) the United States should remain committed to 
                providing long-term diplomatic and political support to 
                the people of Iraq to achieve stability and democracy;
                    (B) the United States should work diligently to 
                accelerate the sound and effective training of Iraqi 
                security forces and to increase international 
                cooperation in this endeavor so that the people of Iraq 
                may assume responsibility for their own security;
                    (C) the United States should continue to pursue a 
                robust and multi-faceted campaign to dismantle and 
                defeat international terrorist networks in Iraq and 
                around the world; and
                    (D) not later than 30 days after the date that the 
                Senate agrees to this resolution, the President should 
                submit to Congress a report that describes--
                            (i) the remaining mission of the Armed 
                        Forces of the United States in Iraq;
                            (ii) current estimates of the time frame 
                        required for the United States to achieve that 
                        mission, including information regarding 
                        variables that could alter that time frame; and
                            (iii) a time frame for the subsequent 
                        withdrawal of United States troops from Iraq.
                                 <all>