Repealing the Doctrine of Preemption & Unilateralism |
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The Issue
Public Law
107-243, which authorized the use of force in Iraq also reflected the
President's policies of preemption and unilateralism. The Bush Doctrine
of preemption and unilateralism is contrary to our long-held policies
of diplomacy, deterrence, and containment. These policies have left the
United States with an open-ended and ill-defined occupation of a
country in the middle of a civil war.
Unlike the
Weinberger Doctrine or the Powell Doctrine, the Bush Doctrine has lead
the United States to war without the troop levels or strategy needed to
secure a post-invasion Iraq. The Weinberger Doctrine, developed under
U.S. Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger in 1984, states that the
United States should use military force only if it is a vital national
interest and only with clearly defined political and military goals.
The Powell Doctrine, outlined by General Colin Powell prior to the Gulf
War in the 1990s, states that if the United States is to use military
force it should be a "overwhelming" military force.
The Solution
March
2007 marks the fourth year of "Operation Iraqi Freedom." It is time to
reverse the irresponsible Bush Doctrine of preemption and
unilateralism, reestablish diplomacy and refocus our energy and
resources on Afghanistan.
I
have introduced H.R. 1292
to:
- Repeal the use of force given to President Bush by Congress in 2002.
By repealing President Bush's authority in Iraq, the bill calls for a
new vote in Congress that reflects the current situation in Iraq.
- Reverse President Bush's Doctrine of preemption and unilateralism. It urges Congress to return to policies of diplomacy, deterrence and containment.
- Intensify
diplomatic relations. Inline
with the Iraq Study Group Report, this bill urges the United States to
intensify diplomatic relations that will provide the proper external
environment and support for the difficult internal steps that the
Government of Iraq should take to promote national reconciliation. It
calls on the United States to increase efforts to engage all
neighboring countries and the League of Arab States to help promote
stability in Iraq.
- Establish
a "quick reaction" force in the Middle East.
The bill urges Congress to establish a quick-reaction U.S. military
force with an over-the-horizon presence in the region to respond to
security threats in the Middle East.
- Redirect attention to America's forgotten war in Afghanistan.
Specifically, the bill calls for increased diplomatic, economic and
military support to Afghanistan, where the Taliban continues to
destabilize the region.
- Reaffirm our commitment to provide humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to the Iraqis.
- Aggressively pursue
terrorists. Osama Bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri, al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations
continue to pose an imminent threat to our homeland and our interests abroad.
Legislative
Information
- Text
of H.R. 1292
- 3/1/07 -
Congressman John B. Larson Introduces Iraq Bill
- 3/20/07
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Congressman Larson Testifies to Foreign Affairs Committee on Bill to Address
Situation in Iraq
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