Senate Resolution 15 - Introduced PAG LIN 1 1 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1 2 BY KIBBIE, APPEL, BEALL, BLACK, BOLKCOM, CONNOLLY, 1 3 COURTNEY, DANIELSON, DEARDEN, DOTZLER, DVORSKY, 1 4 FRAISE, GRONSTAL, HANCOCK, HATCH, HECKROTH, HORN, 1 5 KREIMAN, McCOY, OLIVE, QUIRMBACH, RAGAN, RIELLY, 1 6 SCHMITZ, SCHOENJAHN, SENG, STEWART, and WOOD 1 7 A Resolution opposing the commitment of additional American 1 8 troops to the war in Iraq. 1 9 WHEREAS, the United States strategy and presence on 1 10 the ground in Iraq can only be sustained with the 1 11 support of the American people and bipartisan support 1 12 from Congress; and 1 13 WHEREAS, over 137,000 American military personnel 1 14 are currently serving in Iraq, like thousands of 1 15 others since March 2003, with the bravery and 1 16 professionalism consistent with the finest traditions 1 17 of the United States armed forces, and are deserving 1 18 of the support of all Americans, which strong support 1 19 they have; and 1 20 WHEREAS, more than 2,000 United States military 1 21 personnel have already lost their lives in Iraq, and 1 22 more than 22,500 have been wounded in Iraq; and 1 23 WHEREAS, the deployments of American forces, and 1 24 those that will follow, will have lasting impacts on 1 25 the future recruiting, retention, and readiness of our 1 26 nation's all volunteer force; and 1 27 WHEREAS, in the National Defense Authorization Act 1 28 for Fiscal Year 2006, the Congress stated that 1 29 "calendar year 2006 should be a period of significant 1 30 transition to full sovereignty, with Iraqi security 2 1 forces taking the lead for the security of a free and 2 2 sovereign Iraq"; and 2 3 WHEREAS, a failed state in Iraq would present a 2 4 threat to regional and world peace, and the long=term 2 5 security interests of the United States are best 2 6 served by an Iraq that can sustain, govern, and defend 2 7 itself, and serve as an ally in the war against 2 8 extremists; and 2 9 WHEREAS, Iraq is experiencing a deteriorating and 2 10 ever=widening problem of sectarian and intra=sectarian 2 11 violence based upon political distrust and cultural 2 12 differences between some Sunni and Shia Muslims; and 2 13 WHEREAS, Iraqis must reach political settlements in 2 14 order to achieve reconciliation, and the failure of 2 15 the Iraqis to reach such settlements to support a 2 16 truly unified government greatly contributes to the 2 17 increasing violence in Iraq; and 2 18 WHEREAS, the responsibility for Iraq's internal 2 19 security and halting sectarian violence must rest 2 20 primarily with the Government of Iraq and Iraqi 2 21 Security Forces; and 2 22 WHEREAS, on January 10, 2007, President George W. 2 23 Bush announced his plan to deepen the United States 2 24 military involvement in Iraq by deploying 2 25 approximately 21,000 additional United States combat 2 26 forces to Iraq; and 2 27 WHEREAS, an open=ended commitment of United States 2 28 forces in Iraq is unsustainable and a deterrent to the 2 29 Iraqis making the political compromises and providing 2 30 the personnel and resources that are needed for 3 1 violence to end and for stability and security to be 3 2 achieved in Iraq; and 3 3 WHEREAS, there have been repeated promises by the 3 4 Government of Iraq to assume a greater share of 3 5 security responsibilities, disband militias, consider 3 6 amendments to the Iraq Constitution, enact laws to 3 7 reconcile sectarian differences, and improve the 3 8 quality of life for the Iraqi people, but those 3 9 promises have not been kept; and 3 10 WHEREAS, a successful strategy in Iraq is dependent 3 11 upon the Iraqi leaders fulfilling their promises; and 3 12 WHEREAS, current and former military and foreign 3 13 policy leaders and members of Congress in a bipartisan 3 14 manner have expressed opposition to increasing 3 15 American military presence in Iraq; NOW THEREFORE, 3 16 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the Iowa Senate 3 17 urges that members of the United States Congress and 3 18 the administration not escalate the United States 3 19 military force presence in Iraq and instead encourage 3 20 Iraqi leaders to foster reconciliation and strengthen 3 21 the unity government to improve that nation's 3 22 security; and 3 23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of 3 24 this Resolution shall be sent to George W. Bush, 3 25 President of the United States, to Iowa's 3 26 congressional delegation, and to the members of the 3 27 United States Congress. 3 28 LSB 2559XS 82 3 29 jr:rj/je/5 1