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Secretive Iraq agreement includes no date for U.S. withdrawal |
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Critics urge no agreement without Congressional approval
Dear Supporter of a Just Foreign Policy,
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?
https://www.justforeignpolicy.org/involved/iraqagreement.html
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 [1] 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 [2] 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].
Can you ask your Representative to support this legislation?
https://www.justforeignpolicy.org/involved/iraqagreement.html
Thanks for all you do for a just foreign policy,
Robert Naiman, Sarah Burns, and Chelsea Mozen
Just Foreign Policy
www.justforeignpolicy.org
Support our work. We're funded by people like you. Our small staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. You can contribute here.
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References:
[1]
"Agreement regarding the activities and presence of U.S. forces, and
its withdrawal from Iraq," Americans Friends Service Committee, August
6, 2008, https://www.afsc.org/Iraq/ht/a/GetDocumentAction/i/60561.
[2] "H.R. 4959, "The Iraq Stretegic Agreement
Review Act," https://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.4959:
[3] Cosponsors: https://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HR04959:@@@P
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