WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Bill Delahunt released a letter today from Iraq legislators expressing widespread disapproval of the proposed U.S.-Iraq security agreement if it does not include a specific timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. military troops. 

“The majority of Iraq’s elected representatives are now on record opposing the proposed U.S.-Iraq security agreement -- which means this agreement will not be endorsed by Iraq’s legislative body as required by their constitution,” said Delahunt today following a briefing with Iraqi Parliamentarians visiting Washington DC.

The letter was signed by thirty-one Iraq legislators representing a majority of the Parliament and was delivered to Delahunt, the Chairman of a House Foreign Affairs Oversight Subcommittee this week. The letter is significant because under the Iraqi Constitution, two-thirds of the Iraq Council of Representatives must approve the proposed security agreement that is now being negotiated between the United States and Iraq.  This new agreement was originally planned to be completed at the end of July, but it appears that this deadline will not be met.  The agreement is intended to replace the current UN Security Council Mandate authorizing the presence of military troops in Iraq that is set to expire at the end of the year.

The negotiations on the long term security agreement between the Bush Administration and the Maliki government in Iraq are occurring in the midst of growing concern in Congress and widespread opposition in Iraq.  Last week, thousands of Iraqis took part in marches protesting the reported demands of U.S. negotiators for combat and arrest authority outside of the Iraqi chain of command, and for a long-term presence of U.S. armed forces and private contractors. 

Delahunt’s Oversight Subcommittee has held five hearings on the agreement. The Bush Administration has refused to release the details of the draft accord, except to say that it will include an authorization for U.S. forces to continue to engage in combat.  Expert witnesses have testified that such any pact with such an authorization must be approved by the United States Congress. The Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari pledged on April 14 to submit the agreement to the Iraqi Parliament for approval. However, the Bush administration has said that it will not submit the agreement to the U.S. Congress.

The letter which was printed in Arabic was translated by the Congressional Research Service at Delahunt’s request.  Here is an excerpt:

We, the undersigned members of the council, wish to confirm your concerns that any international agreement that is not ratified by the Iraqi legislative power is considered unconstitutional and illegal, in accordance with the current rulings and laws of the Iraqi Republic. Furthermore, any treaty, agreement or “executive agreement” that is signed between Iraq and the United States will not be legal and will not enter the stage of implementation without first being ratified by the Council of Representatives, in accordance with Article 61 of Section Four of the Iraqi constitution, which gives the Iraqi government’s legislative power, represented by the Council of Representatives, the exclusive right to ratify international treaties and agreements.

Likewise, we wish to inform you that the majority of Iraqi representatives strongly reject any military-security, economic, commercial, agricultural, investment or political agreement with the United States that is not linked to clear mechanisms that obligate the occupying American military forces to fully withdraw from Iraq, in accordance with a declared timetable and without leaving behind any military bases, soldiers or hired fighters.

Given the growing concerns in Congress, Delahunt has introduced legislation with Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro that bars funding for any agreement that has not been approved by Congress.  In order to protect the safety of U.S. troops, the Delahunt-DeLauro legislation also calls for a brief extension of the UN Mandate so that the new American president, rather than the Bush Administration, can conduct the negotiations for a long-term relationship with Iraq.

“The UN Mandate is the sole remaining legal basis for our troops to be fighting in Iraq,” said DeLauro.  “We need to protect them while the new president and Congress determine our long-term policy there.  The proposed agreement that allows the Bush administration to make long-term commitments is not just unconstitutional – it’s bad policy.”

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