[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 21 (Monday, February 5, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S1579]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 70--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT THE 
COMMANDER OF MULTINATIONAL FORCES-IRAQ AND ALL UNITED STATES PERSONNEL 
    UNDER HIS COMMAN SHOULD RECEIVE FROM CONGRESS THE FULL SUPPORT 
        NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE UNITED STATES MISSION IN IRAQ

  Mr. McCAIN (for himself, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Graham, Mr. Cornyn, Mrs. 
Hutchison, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Thune, Mr. Hatch, and Mr. Roberts) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Foreign Relations:

                               S. Res. 70

       Whereas more than 137,000 members of the Armed Forces of 
     the United States are currently serving in Iraq, like 
     thousands of others since March 2003, with the bravery and 
     professionalism consistent with the finest traditions of the 
     Armed Forces of the United States, and deserve the support of 
     all Americans;
       Whereas past mistakes in United States strategy, aggression 
     by various groups that reject peace, and other difficulties 
     have contributed to a dire security situation in Iraq 
     characterized by insurgent activity and sectarian violence;
       Whereas a failed state in Iraq would present a threat to 
     regional and world peace, and the long-term security 
     interests of the United States are best served by an Iraq 
     that can sustain, govern, and defend itself;
       Whereas no amount of additional United States forces in 
     Iraq can effect this outcome in Iraq unless the people and 
     Government of Iraq take difficult political steps toward 
     reconciliation;
       Whereas the establishment of a basic level of security in 
     Baghdad and throughout Iraq is an essential precondition for 
     reconciliation and political and economic progress in Iraq;
       Whereas these steps must include the fulfillment of 
     military, political, and economic commitments that the 
     Government of Iraq has made to the United States and to the 
     people of Iraq;
       Whereas Iraqi political leaders must show visible progress 
     toward meeting specific benchmarks, including--
       (1) deploying a significant number of new Iraqi security 
     forces to partner with United States units in securing 
     Baghdad;
       (2) assuming responsibility for security in all provinces 
     in Iraq in a timely manner;
       (3) disarming individual militias as circumstances warrant 
     and ensuring that security forces are accountable to the 
     central government and loyal to the constitution of Iraq;
       (4) ensuring equitable distribution of the resources of the 
     Government of Iraq without regard to the sect or ethnicity of 
     recipients;
       (5) enacting and implementing legislation to ensure that 
     the oil resources of Iraq benefit Sunni Arabs, Shia Arabs, 
     Kurds, and other Iraqi citizens in an equitable manner;
       (6) building an effective, independent judiciary that will 
     uphold the rule of law and ensure equal protection under the 
     law for all citizens of Iraq;
       (7) pursuing all those who engage in violence or threaten 
     the security of the Iraqi population, regardless of sect or 
     political affiliation;
       (8) enacting and implementing legislation that reforms the 
     de-Ba'athification process in Iraq;
       (9) conducting provincial elections in Iraq;
       (10) ensuring a fair process for amending the constitution 
     of Iraq; and
       (11) expending promised funds to provide basic services and 
     employment opportunities for all Iraqis, including a 
     $10,000,000,000 fund for reconstruction, and ensuring that 
     these funds reach both Sunni and Shia areas, including Sunni 
     neighborhoods in Baghdad and largely Sunni Anbar Province;
       Whereas the United States Ambassador to Iraq and the 
     Commander of Multinational Forces-Iraq should report each 
     month to the Senate on the progress being made by Iraqis 
     toward achieving the benchmarks specified in the preceding 
     clause and on their own progress in achieving their missions 
     in Iraq;
       Whereas leaders in the Administration of President George 
     W. Bush and Congress have made it clear to the Iraqi 
     leadership that the commitment of the United States in Iraq 
     is not open-ended and that, if the Government of Iraq does 
     not follow through on its promises, it will lose the support 
     of its own people and the people of the United States;
       Whereas the moderate countries of the Middle East, and 
     other countries around the world, have an interest in a 
     successful conclusion to the war in Iraq and should increase 
     their constructive assistance toward the achievement of this 
     end;
       Whereas over the past year, leaders in the Administration 
     of President George W. Bush and Congress, as well as 
     recognized experts outside government, acknowledged that the 
     situation in Iraq was deteriorating and required a change in 
     strategy; and
       Whereas Lieutenant General David Petraeus has been 
     unanimously confirmed by the Senate as the new Coalition 
     commander in Iraq and given the mission of implementing a new 
     strategy for Iraq designed to bring security to Iraq and pave 
     the way for political and economic progress in Iraq: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) Congress should ensure that General David Petraeus, the 
     Commander of Multinational Forces-Iraq, and all United States 
     personnel under his command, have the resources they consider 
     necessary to carry out their mission on behalf of the United 
     States in Iraq; and
       (2) the Government of Iraq must make visible, concrete 
     progress toward meeting the political, economic, and military 
     benchmarks enumerated in the preamble to this Resolution.

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