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Posted 12:35 PM
by Mary
Secretive Iraq agreement includes no date for U.S. withdrawal
The Bush Administration and the Iraqi government have been negotiating a "security agreement." Both Congress and the Iraqi parliament have been excluded from the negotiations, and critics in both countries fear that the Bush Administration and the Iraqi government are trying to "lock in" a long term relationship between the United States and Iraq that does not reflect the interests or the views of the majority in either country.
This is a critical time for Congress to hear from Americans about this issue. Can you ask your Representative to insist that any such agreement must be approved by Congress? See JustforeignPolicy.com.
The Bush Administration is trying to sneak through this agreement that could constrain the choices of the next Administration concerning the future of US forces in Iraq. Press reports suggest that the negotiations have reached an advanced stage.
While the Iraqi government has publicly acknowledged that the agreement must be approved by the Iraqi parliament, the Bush Administration has not acknowledged that the agreement must be approved by Congress.
The American Friends Service Committee has published a translation of a draft of the agreement that appeared in the Iraqi press. Contrary to the impression given by many press reports on the negotiations, the draft agreement apparently specifies no date for the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq, even as a goal.
Rep. DeLauro has introduced legislation that would require the Bush Administration to consult with Congress on any long-term security, economic, or political agreement with the Government of Iraq. It would prohibit the use of funds for the implementation of any long-term security, economic, or political agreement with the Government of Iraq unless the agreement is in the form of a treaty with respect to which the Senate has given its advice and consent to ratification under Article II of the Constitution. This legislation currently has 58 sponsors in the House [3].
Please ask your Representative to support this legislation?
Labels: AFSC, congress, Iraq, withdrawal
