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Week Ending October 5, 2007

H.R.3087 To require the President, in coordination with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other senior military leaders, to develop and transmit to Congress a comprehensive strategy for the redeployment of United States Armed Forces in Iraq.

<< Click flag for map and country data, Iraq

The Secretary of Defense is directed to report to Congress in 60 days and every 90 days thereafter on the planning for redeployment of Armed Forces from Iraq until the time comes when the Secretary certifies that the Armed Forces are no longer primarily engaged in a combat mission there. The bill requires the Secretary to develop a contingency plan for withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. The plan should describe a range of scenarios for the redeployment, outline multiple timetables and describe possible missions and number of personnel required for US armed forces that remain there.

The bill requires the plan but does not require the redeployment.

The bill is based on the President’s report to Congress regarding progress with the benchmarks Iraq is to work towards so to set the conditions for US troop withdrawal. The bill report notes that the President reported that he is pursuing a multi-pronged strategy ‘designed to set the conditions for US troops to begin coming home, without risking a humanitarian catastrophe in Iraq, sanctuaries for international terrorist networks or a broader regional conflict that would threaten US national security interests for generations”

Congress asserts that the Iraq Resolution it passed in 2002 authorized the President to use force to defend US national security against the continuing threat posed by the Government of Iraq. That government no longer in power, the current government does not pose a threat, therefore, it is up to the Government of Iraq to be responsible for Iraq’s future.

The bill includes text that claims nothing in the Act shall be construed as a congressional recommendation that any particular contingency plan be exercised but that it is necessary for the Department of Defense to undertake robust and comprehensive contingency planning.

In the area of contingency planning the bill asserts that any plans to redeploy troops should address force protection for those forces, US civilians, contractors, third-party nationals and Iraqi nationals who have assisted in the US mission in Iraq. The bill asserts further that contingency plans should include the maintaining and enhancing the ability of the US Government to eliminate and disrupt al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations and should preserve military equipment necessary to defend national security interests of the US. The number of and possible mission of any SU troops remaining in Iraq should be described.

Sponsor:  Rep. John S Tanner (D-TN-8^th)

Vote: Passed House 377 to 46 RC 927 October 5, 2007

Cost to the taxpayers:

Earmark Certification:  

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MORE INFORMATION

Congress finds the following:

(1) The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-243), enacted into law on October 16, 2002, authorized the President to use the Armed Forces as the President determined necessary and appropriate in order to defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by the Government of Iraq at that time.

(2) The Government of Iraq which was in power at the time the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 was enacted into law has been removed from power and its leader indicted, tried, convicted, and executed by the new freely-elected democratic Government of Iraq.

(3) The current Government of Iraq does not pose a threat to the United States or its interests.

(4) After more than four years of valiant efforts by members of the Armed Forces and United States civilians, the Government of Iraq must now be responsible for Iraq's future course.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of Congress that--

(1) nothing in this Act shall be construed as a recommendation by Congress that any particular contingency plan be exercised;

(2) it is necessary and prudent for the Department of Defense to undertake robust and comprehensive contingency planning;

(3) contingency planning for a redeployment of the Armed Forces from Iraq should address--

(A) ensuring appropriate protection for the Armed Forces in Iraq;

(B) providing appropriate protection in Iraq for United States civilians, contractors, third party nationals, and Iraqi nationals who have assisted the United States mission in Iraq;

(C) maintaining and enhancing the ability of the United States Government to eliminate and disrupt Al Qaeda and affiliated terrorist organizations; and

(D) preserving military equipment necessary to defend the national security interests of the United States; and

(4) contingency planning for a redeployment of the Armed Forces from Iraq should--

(A) describe a range of possible scenarios for such redeployment;

(B) outline multiple possible timetables for such redeployment; and

(C) describe the possible missions, and the associated projected number of members, of the Armed Forces which would remain in Iraq, including to--

(i) conduct United States military operations to protect vital United States national security interests;

(ii) conduct counterterrorism operations against Al Qaeda in Iraq and affiliated terrorist organizations;

(iii) protect the Armed Forces, United States diplomatic and military facilities, and United States civilians; and

(iv) support and equip Iraqi forces to take full responsibility for their own security.

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