War on Terror

Senator Murkowski dines with
Alaskan troops in Fallujah.

Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton, Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman, Sen. John Thune (R-SD), Sen. Murkowski and White House Counsel James Connaughton on the ground in ANWR
Senator Murkowski with Buckland Mayor, and Alaska National Guardsman, Herman Tickett.

We all want our troops to come home from Iraq as quickly and as safely as possible. I do not, however, support a timetable for withdrawing our forces in Iraq. I believe our military commanders on the ground and the Iraqi Government have the best idea on when the Iraqi forces will be ready to handle the responsibility of providing for a secure and stable environment.

While a military component is necessary in Iraq, I believe that, for sustainable progress to be realized, Iraq’s political leaders must demonstrate a willingness to reach a political solution to the sectarian violence and implement a strategy to attain national reconciliation.

I joined with Senator Bob Casey (PA) in introducing legislation, S. 2130, urging the Administration to reallocate civilian expertise to help the Iraqi government provide essential government services. Our entire government needs to be involved in the reconstruction process in Iraq, not just the Department of Defense and State Department. S. 2130 calls for an increase of civilian technocrats to help governmental entities in Iraq strengthen their capacity to offer the Iraqi people these government services.

Our bill also urges the Administration to more actively promote regional engagement with Iraq’s neighbors through bilateral, regional, and international initiatives. S. 2130 asks the Administration to appoint a Presidential envoy to the Middle East region to focus on a regional framework to help stabilize Iraq.

On June 26, 2008, the Senate completed action on the Fiscal Year 2008 Supplemental Appropriations bill. The President signed the bill into law on June 30th. The bill contains $162 billion for military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq; $96 billion for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2008, and $66 billion for the first part of Fiscal Year 2009. In addition, the bill prohibits the establishment of permanent U.S. bases in Iraq.