[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 39 (Thursday, March 5, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H3029-H3030]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    IMPLEMENTING THE PRESIDENT'S PLAN: AN OUTLINE FOR ACTION IN IRAQ

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, the Center for Arms Control and 
Nonproliferation has released a report. It's called ``Implementing the 
President's Plan: An Outline for Action in Iraq.''
  This report, based on the Obama plan to redeploy U.S. troops and 
military contractors in 16 months, was written by retired military 
leaders Colonel Richard L. Klass, Lieutenant General Robert G. Gard, 
Jr., and Brigadier General John Johns.

[[Page H3030]]

  In a town full of reports, theirs is unique because it gives a clear 
outline of just how to execute the administration's original plan for a 
responsible and orderly redeployment from Iraq. Anyone who questioned 
the original proposal just needs to listen to those who know what it 
really means to carry out a military plan.
  About the 16-month timeline, retired Army Lieutenant General Robert 
Gard says, ``President Obama's plan to remove combat forces from Iraq 
is militarily workable and can be executed responsibly.''
  Echoing what many of us in Congress have been saying for years, 
retired Air Force Colonel Richard Klass said, ``Redeployment of U.S. 
combat forces should be coupled with a diplomatic surge to help 
stabilize Iraq.''
  Mr. Speaker, instead of a residual force of up to 50,000 troops, this 
plan proposes a workable U.S. redeployment schedule that would result 
in, first, 100,000 total U.S. troops remaining in Iraq by the end of 
2009 and 35,000 to 65,000 support troops remaining in Iraq up until 
2010 when the President's 16-month timetable would end, if it is 
initiated by April 2009, and less than 1,000 troops remaining by 
December 2011 when the U.S.-Iraqi security agreement mandates that all 
U.S. forces be out of Iraq.
  Not only would this plan redeploy troops and military contractors, 
but it would ensure that the United States will not have any permanent 
bases in Iraq. Even though the report comes from former military brass, 
they readily acknowledge that there is no military solution to the 
situation in Iraq.
  The report calls for a strong diplomatic surge. It goes on to say, 
``The United States needs to undertake an all-fronts diplomatic 
initiative to engage the nations of the region to help stabilize 
Iraq.''
  The evidence keeps mounting up, Mr. Speaker, and the extended 
occupation of Iraq is not in the interest of the United States, of the 
international community or of the Iraqi people. I encourage our 
military and foreign policy leaders to look closely at this report and 
to heed the American people. We must redeploy all troops and military 
contractors from Iraq, and we must do it as soon as possible.

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