S.Amdt. 4207

1. Adds SEC. 1084. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON REDEPLOYMENT OF ARMED FORCES FROM IRAQ at the end of subtitle I of title X

   Adds a section

   In S. 2766 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   (5) the risk assessment prepared by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs to accompany the Quadrennial Defense Review should be comprehensive and should include a description of the capabilities needed to address the risks identified in that assessment.

   Inserted: SEC. 1084. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON REDEPLOYMENT OF ARMED FORCES FROM IRAQ.

   Inserted: (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:

   Inserted: (1) The United States Policy in Iraq Act (section 1227 of Public Law 109-163) states that "calendar year 2006 should be a period of significant transition to full Iraqi sovereignty, with Iraqi security forces taking the lead for the security of a free and sovereign Iraq, thereby creating the conditions for the phased redeployment of United States forces from Iraq".

   Inserted: (2) Congress, through such Act, declared its policy that "United States military forces should not stay in Iraq any longer than required" and the people of Iraq should be so advised.

   Inserted: (3) In such Act, Congress also stated that "the Administration should tell the leaders of all groups and political parties in Iraq that they need to make the compromises necessary to achieve the broad-based and sustainable political settlement that is essential for defeating the insurgency in Iraq, within the schedule they set for themselves".

   Inserted: (4) Congress also said, the Executive Branch needs to explain to Congress and to the people of the United States the strategy of the United States for the successful completion of its mission in Iraq.

   Inserted: (5) Since March 2003, Congress has appropriated approximately $300,000,000,000 for combat operations in Iraq.

   Inserted: (6) The nature of violence in Iraq has changed in the last 6 months from insurgent and terrorist conducted attacks to sectarian and ethnic killings, increasing the prospect of a broader civil war and the involuntary involvement of the Armed Forces of the United States in this internal conflict.

   Inserted: (7) Trained and equipped security forces of Iraq have increased in number to roughly 250,000 troops, and there are now more than 70 battalions capable of taking the lead in some form.

   Inserted: (8) Moqtada al-Sadr and other radical religious leaders control and direct death squads and militia forces, fomenting internecine warfare and the expansion of religious and ethnic tensions that are a major destabilizing factor in Iraq.

   Inserted: (9) Iraq has now completed historic elections resulting in the creation of a permanent 275 member assembly and a Constitution, and the recent selection of Prime Minister-designate Nuri al-Maliki will further solidify a governing structure for the country.

   Inserted: (10) The establishment of a Parliament and a working government signals an opportunity for the people of Iraq to take control of their own destiny.

   Show 14 more inserted paragraphsShow less

   Inserted: (11) An open-ended major military presence of the United States in Iraq will continue to inspire efforts by Al Qaeda, Iran, and other state sponsors of terrorism to target directly soldiers of the United States throughout Iraq.

   Inserted: (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--

   Inserted: (1) following 3 years of military operations in Iraq, the United States should transition its missions to a mission that focuses on logistical suppo; and training of the military and police forces of Iraq;

   Inserted: (2) the United States should begin to downsize the Armed Forces of the United States in Iraq with the goal of ending the presence of the Armed Forces of the United States in Iraq within 18 months from the date of the enactment of this Act, except for logistical and training personnel;

   Inserted: (3) a plan to redeploy the Armed Forces of the United States either to the United States or to other critical areas of potential terrorist conflict such as Afghanistan should be prepared immediately; and

   Inserted: (4) a schedule and timeline for the downsizing and deployment of the Armed Forces of the United States in Iraq should be prepared and sent to Congress for review within 60 days from the date of the enactment of this Act.

   Inserted: (c) Report.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and once every 3 months thereafter, until all members of the Armed Forces of the United States have redeployed from Iraq, the President shall submit to Congress an unclassified report on the policy of the United States regarding Iraq and the strategic downsizing of the structure of the Armed Forces of the United States in Iraq.

   Inserted: (2) Contents.--Each report shall include, to the extent practicable, the following unclassified information:

   Inserted: (A) The diplomatic, military, and economic steps being taken to commence the immediate, phased redeployment of Armed Forces from Iraq.

   Inserted: (B) Actions being taken by the United States to strengthen the capacity of the Interior, Defense, and other related ministries of Iraq to provide for nationwide security and a stable living environment for all of the people of Iraq.

   Inserted: (C) Efforts of the United States to train and logistically support the military, police and other security units of Iraq for purposes of completing the transfer of the duties and responsibility for maintaining peace in Iraq, and providing for a civil and just society in Iraq.

   Inserted: (D) Activities of the United States designed to sustain and strengthen a broad-based political settlement among all ethnic and religious groups in Iraq that is essential for defeating the insurgency, successfully combating death squads and militia groups, and restoring law and order across the country.

   Inserted: (E) A detailed, substantive overview of implementation plans for a balanced, strategic downsizing and repositioning of Armed Forces in Iraq at the earliest possible date.

   Original wording

   At the end of subtitle I of title X, insert the following:

Read automatically from the Congressional Record. Check the original before relying on it.

As printed