110 HRES 147 IH: Expressing the sense of the House of U.S. House of Representatives 2007-02-08 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV 110th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 147 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 8, 2007 Mr. King of Iowa (for himself, Mr. Franks of Arizona, Mr. Hensarling, Mrs. Myrick, Mr. Pearce, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Mr. Miller of Florida, Mr. Gingrey, Mr. Walberg, Mr. Pence, Mr. Shadegg, Mr. Sali, Mr. Saxton, and Mr. Radanovich) submitted the following 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 RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States is committed to victory in the global War on Terror and committed to victory on that battlefield in the War on Terror that is Iraq.

Whereas Congress respects the constitutional authorities given the President in Article II, section 2 of the Constitution which states that The President shall be commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the United States; Whereas the United States strategy and operations in Iraq can only be sustained and achieved with support from the American people and with a level of bipartisanship; Whereas it is in the national security interest of the United States that a democratic Iraq be able to govern, sustain, and defend itself; Whereas a United States military departure from Iraq before Iraq can govern, sustain, and defend itself will likely lead to a failed state and consequently a safe haven for Islamic radicals, including al Qaeda and Hezbollah, who are determined to attack the United States and her allies domestically and abroad; Whereas a United States departure from Iraq before Iraq can govern, sustain, and defend itself may lead to a broader regional conflict, possibly involving Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, and may result in the United States having to return to the region at greater cost in American lives; Whereas a United States departure from Iraq before Iraq can govern, sustain, and defend itself will lead to massive humanitarian suffering, including widespread ethnic killings and countless refugees and internally displaced persons, many of whom will be tortured and killed for having assisted Coalition forces; Whereas a United States departure from Iraq before Iraq can govern, sustain, and defend itself will embolden the enemies of the United States and cause friend and foe of the United States alike to doubt the determination of the United States to defend its national security interests and to defeat terrorism; Whereas despite successful elections and a constitutional referendum in Iraq in 2005, in which large numbers of Iraqis participated, violence between numerous groups competing for power in Iraq increased in 2006; Whereas the Commander in Chief, following lengthy consultations and advice offered from a wide variety of expert sources in and out of government, has proposed a new plan for Iraq to bring the violence under control and achieve success; Whereas the chances of success of the new plan of the Commander in Chief, while not guaranteed, are likely better than either the status quo or a precipitous withdrawal of United States and Coalition forces from Iraq; Whereas the bi-partisan Iraq Study Group, on page 73 of its report, stated that it could support a short-term redeployment or surge of American combat forces to stabilize Baghdad, or to speed up the training and equipping mission, if the U.S. Commander in Iraq determines that such steps would be effective; Whereas the new Multi-National Force Commander-Iraq, General David Petraeus, and the new Combatant Commander of Central Command, Admiral William Fallon, have endorsed the plan of the Commander in Chief; Whereas former Secretary of State James A. Baker III, co-chairman of the Iraq Study Group, on January 30, 2007, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee the President’s plan ought to be given a chance; and Whereas Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have at various times called upon the Commander in Chief to add additional troops in Iraq to be able to clear and hold areas in Iraq previously held by insurgents: Now, therefore, be it

That— (1)it is the sense of the House of Representatives that— (A)the consequences of failure in Iraq pose a serious threat to security of the American people and the security and economic interests of the United States; and (B)the United States must remain committed to helping the Government of Iraq establish a nation that can govern, sustain, and defend itself; and (2)the House of Representatives supports the members of the United States Armed Forces and their mission in Iraq and in the global War on Terror and is committed to providing the Armed Forces with the moral and tangible support necessary to complete the mission and secure victory.