WASHINGTON, DC – At a Foreign Affairs hearing today, Congressman Bill Delahunt secured a commitment from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that she or a witness from the State Department would appear at a future oversight hearing to explain in public session the nature of the proposed agreement between the United States and Iraq, outlined in the “Declaration of Principles” signed by President Bush and the Iraqi Prime Minister in November 2007.

Delahunt, who chairs the Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight, has been holding a series of hearings on the proposed long-term agreement. According to the “Declaration of Principles,” the pact would commit the US to defending Iraq’s “democratic system against external and internal threats, providing security assurances and commitments….to deter foreign aggression against Iraq that violates its sovereignty and integrity of its territories, waters, or airspace,” and “supporting…Iraq in its efforts to combat all terrorist groups.” 

Expert witnesses at Delahunt’s hearings have agreed that such a commitment would require Congressional approval.  But until today, the Administration has refused to testify before Delahunt’s panel in public and explain in open session the details of the proposed agreement. 

At the beginning of his questioning Delahunt said, “Madam Secretary, I welcome your statement regarding keeping the Congress informed on the proposed bilateral agreement and particularly your reference to full transparency, I think it is important because I believe that the American people deserve to know as much as possible about their future and the relationship between the United States and Iraq…Is it safe for me to conclude that at the next hearing that we will have a representative of the Department of State?”

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice responded by saying: “Absolutely” 

Secretary Rice agreed that she or representatives from the State Department would testify at future hearings on the agreement, which she argued was necessary to protect US troops from legal jeopardy because the United Nations mandate under which they currently operate expires on December 31, 2008.  However, Delahunt pointed out that even if the UN mandate is allowed to expire, then US troops are still protected from prosecution.  That’s because Iraqi law incorporates “Coalition Provisional Authority Order Number 17,” issued by the US-led CPA in 2003, which granted US and allied forces immunity.

Secretary Rice said that the final agreement will not bind future Administrations.  Delahunt, however, remains skeptical of the Bush Administration’s plans, given the recent signing statement that claims that the President does not have to obey a Congressional ban on permanent military bases in Iraq.  Delahunt insists that the Bush Administration must follow its own guidelines requiring consultation with Congress as it develops a long term agreement with Iraq.

To watch the video exchange of Delahunt and Secretary Rice, please click here.

To read the joint Delahunt/DeLauro letter to President Bush, please click here.

To read the "Declaration of Principles" from the White House website, please click here.

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