[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 321 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 321

Expressing the need for a more comprehensive diplomatic initiative led 
      by the United States, Iraq, and the international community.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 2, 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, 
 Mr. Shays, Mr. English of Pennsylvania, Ms. Kaptur, and Ms. Baldwin) 
 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, Iraq, and the 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 involving Iraq's neighboring countries, 
        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, and of 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 neighboring countries, thereby affecting the balance of 
        power in the region;
Whereas the removal of Saddam Hussein has resulted in the democratic election of 
        the Government of Iraq where nearly 7,000,000 Iraqis participated in the 
        voting process;
Whereas elements and actions from outside Iraq's borders, including neighboring 
        countries, 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, 
        are facing difficulties to achieve political reconciliation and to 
        independently govern;
Whereas the Iraq Study Group stated that ``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 that ``any 
        student of history recognizes there is no military solution to a problem 
        like that in Iraq, to the insurgency in Iraq''; and
Whereas finding a responsible and strategic way forward in Iraq will require 
        international support: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) declares that 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;
            (2) declares that the current drawdown and eventual 
        departure of the United States Armed Forces in Iraq be 
        performed in a strategic and responsible manner, in 
        consultation with the Government of Iraq, and must be supported 
        by a comprehensive international and regional diplomatic 
        initiative;
            (3) encourages the President and the administration, 
        jointly with Iraq, to initiate, develop, and implement a 
        sustained comprehensive regional and multilateral diplomatic 
        plan of action, in conjunction with the United Nations Security 
        Council, the United Nations Secretary General, Iraq's 
        neighboring countries, regional organizations as the Arab 
        League, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and 
        appropriate nongovernmental 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 insurgency groups amongst civilian 
                militias and related civil organizations;
                    (C) preventing the spread of violence from Iraq 
                into neighboring countries and fostering a collective 
                security arrangement between Iraq with neighboring 
                countries to secure Iraq's sovereign integrity and 
                border security;
                    (D) preventing genocide, ethnic cleansing, and 
                other crimes against humanity;
                    (E) preventing the establishment of safe havens for 
                al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations;
                    (F) continuing to provide assistance to the Iraqi 
                Security Forces, including military training, 
                education, equipment and technical support, and to 
                encourage the United Nations and regional allies to 
                support this coordinated effort if the Iraqi Government 
                supports this strategic arrangement; and
                    (G) supporting the formation of an international 
                consortium for relief and reconstruction in Iraq;
            (4) urges the President and the administration, jointly 
        with Iraq, the United Nations, and regional organizations, to 
        expeditiously engage in bilateral and multilateral talks and 
        conferences with Iraq's neighboring countries, 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 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'';
            (5) remains resolved that the interests of the people of 
        Iraq, United States allies, and the greater Middle East region 
        should be paramount in establishing regional and international 
        assistance and aid to ensure the unity and integrity of Iraq so 
        as to safeguard the establishment of a cohesive government in 
        Iraq;
            (6) encourages the international community, regional 
        organizations, and the United States, in consultation with the 
        Government of Iraq, to continue efforts to strengthen the Iraqi 
        Security Forces and, to the extent practicable, to police human 
        rights violations;
            (7) recognizes that as part of a diplomatic initiative in 
        Iraq, the President should transmit to the Congress, in 
        classified and unclassified form, a comprehensive regional 
        stability plan for Iraq, which shall include diplomatic, 
        political, and economic strategic measures;
            (8) urges sustained commitment of Iraq, the United States, 
        countries in the Middle East, and the 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 to provide 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) supporting efforts by the Iraqi Government for 
                an equitable distribution of oil revenues to the Iraqi 
                people; and
                    (F) encouraging initiatives to assist in rebuilding 
                Iraq's infrastructure, including public health, 
                transportation, physical plants, educational, and 
                utilities systems;
            (9) expresses its deep and sincere gratitude to the 
        coalition forces and other international supporters for their 
        contribution and sacrifice in the collective efforts to bring 
        peace and stability to Iraq;
            (10) expresses its sincere condolences to the families of 
        the many Iraqis who have died, and to the many Iraqis who have 
        been displaced or wounded in their struggle to gain a measure 
        of freedom; and
            (11) recognizes that the United States Government and the 
        American people owe a debt of gratitude to the young men and 
        women who have honorably served in Iraq and now deserve 
        comprehensive rehabilitation, physical, mental, educational, 
        and economic assistance.
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