Iraq Watch

Fall 2009 - Iraq Watch Update

While most of America’s attention has now shifted to Afghanistan, approximately 124,000 U.S. troops are still in Iraq. So our Oversight Subcommittee will continue to call attention to what Senator John Kerry has referred to as “the forgotten war.”

Under the U.S.-Iraq bilateral agreement signed by the Bush Administration and the Iraqi government in winter 2008, US troops are to withdraw from Iraq by the end of 2011.

However, many issues continue to crop up, including legal protection for US forces, authority to initiate combat missions, transfer of prisoners, etc. These have all been overshadowed by continued political disagreements among Iraqi politicians, reinforcing the fact that even if the violence there has subsided, the potential for a resumption of bloodshed is still ever-present.

One matter of particular concern to me has been the commitment the Bush Administration made to help Iraq get out of its remaining “Chapter VII” United Nations mandates. These mandates cover a range of issues, from border disputes, to compensation claims from the first Gulf War, to the bank account which protects Iraq’s oil revenue from lawsuits, to now-obsolete provisions regarding weapons of mass destruction.

While this issue has received little attention in the United States, they are still a very big deal in Iraq, where U.S. troops are still at risk. If these issues remain unresolved, they could potentially impact a proposed referendum in Iraq on the US-Iraq agreement, tentatively planned this coming January.

To monitor developments in Iraq and keep close tabs on this issue, my Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on September 17, 2009. Testifying at the hearing were Former Iraqi Prime Minster Ayad Allawi, Member of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, Saleh al Mutlaq, George Washington University Professor Michael Matheson, and Congressional Research Service Specialist in Middle East Affairs Kenneth Katzman.

The hearing lasted about 90 minutes and can be watched by clicking here.

In addition, we continue to express concern about the status of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Last spring I signed onto legislation authored by Congressman Jim McGovern that would direct the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to Congress, by December 31, 2009, outlining the exit strategy for U.S. military forces in Afghanistan participating in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Spring 2008 - Iraq Watch Update

Earlier this spring, I joined with Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) to announce the introduction of the “Protect Our Troops and Our Constitution Act,” legislation that will cut off funds for a U.S.-Iraqi security agreement that has not been submitted to and approved by Congress.

I have held hearings on this issue since December. There is more information below.

On April 5, Professors Bruce Ackerman and Oona Hathaway wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post in support of this legislation. To read it, please click here.

At a recent hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I questioned General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker on the proposed U.S. Iraq Long-term security agreement. Please click here. for video.

Winter 2008 - Iraq Watch Update

On November 26, 2007, President Bush and Prime Minister al-Maliki signed the “Declaration of Principles.” This document is designed to be a framework to replace the current United Nations Security Council Resolutions that authorize military activities in Iraq. Since the UN resolutions will expire at the end of the year, it is expected that the Declaration and subsequent agreements will provide a new legal framework for the combat activities of multilateral forces in the country, including American troops.

To read a report from the Congressional Research Service detailing the background of this issue, please click here.

The full name of this document is the “Declaration of Principles for a Long-Term Relationship of Cooperation and Friendship Between the Republic of Iraq and the United States of America.” To read it, please click here.

I have expressed concerns that the Declaration and any related agreements would commit American troops to “supporting the Republic of Iraq in defending its democratic system against internal and external threats.”

Out of fear that this agreement will commit United States forces to a combat role in Iraq for the next ten years, this winter I have held a series of Oversight Hearings to examine exactly what the Administration’s intentions are.

To watch video of my questioning of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on this issue, please click here.

To watch an interview with CNN please click here.

Summer 2007 - Iraq Watch Update

Just before the Memorial Day recess, Congress provided President Bush with additional funds to continue the war in Iraq. I joined with the entire Massachusetts delegation and voted against this proposal.

Meanwhile, this week I signed on to legislation authored by U.S. Representative Neil Abercrombie that places an expiration date on the Authorization to Use Military Force Against Iraq passed by Congress in 2002.

Under this legislation the original war authorization passed by the Congress in October 2002 would expire 180 days from enactment of the bill, and a new authorization by Congress would be required to continue the war in Iraq.

The Congressional authorization approved by Congress that was used to take our country to war called for the removal of Saddam Hussein and ending the threat from weapons of mass destruction. At the time I argued that President Bush did not present to the Congress compelling evidence to back up those claims. I opposed the resolution because I believed -- and still do -- that those conditions never existed.

I also have signed onto a letter to President Bush which says that I will only support appropriating additional funds for U.S. military operations in Iraq during Fiscal Year 2008 and beyond for the protection and safe redeployment of all our troops out of Iraq. To read the letter, please click here.

Click here to read my statement on the original resolution that authorized for the use of force in Iraq

Today, the rationale used to authorize the war no longer exists. It is time for the Congress to address this issue and make it abundantly clear to President Bush.

Congress has a Constitutional obligation to revisit this issue and provide needed the oversight and policy guidance. If President Bush believes the war in Iraq needs to continue, then he must convince Congress and the American people. He must also present a resolution to the Congress that clearly states the mission of our troops, the enemy we are fighting and the specific threat to our national security

This debate would be about the need to continue the war, and where do we go from here.

Bill co-sponsors also include Reps. Walter Jones (R-NC), Martin Meehan and Richard Neal (all D-MA), John Duncan (R-TN), Marci Kaptur (D-OH), Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Michael Michaud (D-ME) and Nancy Boyda (D-KS).

February 1, 2007 - Statement on President Bush’s “Surge” Proposal

Over the past four years the Bush Administration has advanced similar initiatives, each time describing it as the plan for “victory.” But while our men and women in uniform have performed heroically, these plans have repeatedly failed because the overall strategy has been dictated by the Administration’s dangerous combination of arrogance, incompetence, and wishful thinking.

The President’s latest proposal is no different. Instead of following the advice of our military leaders and the bipartisan recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, he has put forward a plan that is unrealistic, a political approach that is overly simplistic, and an economic initiative that will have no lasting impact. In short, he outlined a plan in search of a reality.

More disturbing are reports that United States forces will be pulled out of Afghanistan for this effort. Afghanistan is where the real war against al Qaeda – the group that attacked America on 9/11 – is under way, and our military assistance is desperately needed there. But because the Administration withdrew resources from that country for the invasion and occupation of Iraq, Afghanistan threatens to revert to the anarchy that allowed al Qaeda to thrive before 9/11. Pulling even more troops out of Afghanistan will only worsen conditions there, putting America even more at risk.

Next Steps

The Democratic leaders of Congress have already announced their opposition to the President’s plan. Congress is now exploring ways to turn this opposition into concrete action without inadvertently cutting off aid to our troops.

For my part, I am cosponsoring “The Safe and Orderly Withdrawal From Iraq Act” (H.R.746) authored by Rep. Jim McGovern, which calls for the withdrawal of all U.S. armed forces from Iraq within 30 days of enactment. The legislation also places a deadline on withdrawal to be completed within 180 days and would terminate all funds for deployment of U.S. troops in Iraq thereafter. To review a summary of this legislative proposal, please click here .

In addition, I am an original co-sponsor of legislation (H Res 18) authored by Congressman Murtha which would redeploy our troops from Iraq and another proposal (HR 353) which prohibits the increase of military forces in Iraq (Senator Edward M. Kennedy has introduced a similar bill in the Senate) without a specific authorization from Congress. I am also a co-sponsor of a resolution (H Res 41) calling on the President to focus on a diplomatic solution rather than a military one.

In the meantime, Congress has initiated aggressive oversight of the Administration’s policies in Iraq and has initiated a review of other alternative proposals.

The Congressional panel on which I serve, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, recently grilled Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on the President’s policies. We will also invite other experts, like former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and members of the Iraq Study Group, to testify on the various options that are now under discussion. We anticipate several more oversight hearings, which will be broadcast, live on C-SPAN or at the House Committee on Foreign Affairs website. I encourage you to watch them if you can.

By providing a platform for alternative views – and by holding the Administration’s feet to the fire – we can heighten public awareness of the flaws in the President’s plan as well as the serious challenges we faces as we seek an exit from Iraq.

It is my hope that growing public pressure will convince more Republicans in Congress to break with the President and support a real change in US policy – thus giving the Congress the veto-proof majorities we need to change the direction of the war in Iraq.

• World View of United States Role in World Affairs Goes From Bad to Worse
• Read my statement on the original resolution authorizing the use of force in Iraq