[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.
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