S.Amdt. 1655

1. Adds SEC. 1232. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING COMMITMENT TO GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR at the end of subtitle C of title XII

   Adds a section

   In S. 1390 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   (D) providing a comprehensive assessment of how the performance of the particular measure of progress hinders or enhances the overall performance toward achieving strategic objectives of the United States in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

   Inserted: SEC. 1232. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING COMMITMENT TO GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR.

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

   Inserted: (1) The surge strategy executed in Iraq by General David H. Petraeus and General Raymond T. Odierno in 2007 and 2008 was highly successful in reducing levels of violence and enabling the Iraqi government and security forces to gain credibility and capability.

   Inserted: (2) President Obama articulated his general strategy for Iraq during a speech at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, on February 27, 2009, stating that a central goal is to ensure that Iraq "is sovereign, stable, and self-reliant". During the speech, the President outlined the President's objective to "transition to full Iraqi responsibility" through the "responsible removal of our combat brigades from Iraq".

   Inserted: (3) As part of the President's Iraq strategy, the President also indicated the President's commitment to ensuring that "we preserve the gains we've made and protect our troops". Consequently, the United States and our allies have a continued interest in maintaining these hard-fought security gains, especially during the upcoming Iraqi provincial elections, while simultaneously protecting the United States military and civilian members still in Iraq.

   Inserted: (4) A key component of the President's plan for Iraq is to retain a transitional force there to carry out several distinct functions, including training, equipping, and advising the Iraqi Security Forces, conducting targeted counterterrorism missions, and protecting our civilian and military forces within Iraq. In accordance with this policy, United States forces have largely withdrawn from Iraqi cities, but the President expects that the transitional force, to number between 35,000 and 50,000 United States military servicemembers, will remain in Iraq for the foreseeable future.

   Inserted: (5) President Obama articulated his emerging plan for Afghanistan in a speech on March 27, 2009, stating that the United States goal there is to "disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and to prevent their return to either country in the future". To this end, the current surge strategy in Afghanistan, spearheaded by General Petraeus and General Stanley A. McChrystal, the new commander of the NATO International Security Assistance Force, is critical to providing security for the Afghan populace, bolstering the Afghan security forces, and waging a successful campaign against Islamic extremists of al Qaeda, the Taliban, and affiliated groups.

   Inserted: (6) President Obama's laudable goals of disrupting terrorist networks in Afghanistan and Pakistan and developing increasingly self-reliant Afghan security forces necessitated the surge of 17,000 additional United States troops to increase the overall size of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force. These more robust forces, focusing in the south and east portions of the country, will have an enhanced ability to protect the Afghan population against a resurgence of al Qaeda, the Taliban, and their allies, as well as to provide greater ability for the Afghan government to establish effective government control.

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

   Inserted: (1) the global war on terror represents a critical effort to protect the American people and ensure that future generations may continue to enjoy the precious freedoms we have today;

   Inserted: (2) the United States must remain committed to succeeding in the global war on terror and fighting the forces of Islamic extremism in Iraq and Afghanistan, including al Qaeda, the Taliban, and other groups, that are intent on the murder of innocent Americans, the destruction of the American way of life, and the global proliferation of radical and violent ideology;

   Inserted: (3) our military servicemembers and civilian United States personnel serving in harm's way in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other fronts in the global war on terror must be given any and all resources they need to accomplish the missions that have been asked of them, including the deployment of additional forces, should United States commanders on the ground deem that necessary;

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   Inserted: (4) in Iraq, the hard-earned security gains won by our servicemembers must be preserved, and the long-term United States strategy there must continue to reflect that essential goal;

   Inserted: (5) the President's plan for Iraq is fundamentally sound and represents a responsible and carefully considered strategy that will help Iraq maintain sovereignty, stability, and self-reliance, achievements that were made possible largely through the extraordinary efforts and tremendous sacrifices of United States servicemembers and civilian personnel in Iraq;

   Inserted: (6) the President's plan for Afghanistan is clearly intended to improve the overall security situation there and enable the eventual drawdown and withdrawal of United States forces, and the President's near-term strategy to surge forces and provide improved security to the Afghan people by locating United States military personnel among the population, in conjunction with the growing Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police, which the United States supports and trains, will increase the security of the Afghan population; and

   Inserted: (7) although gains in the global war on terror will not come without a cost, the American people and the Iraqi and Afghan people share a common enemy and a common goal to do whatever is necessary to defeat terrorists and those who support them, no matter the cost or duration.

   Original wording

   At the end of subtitle C of title XII, add the following:

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As printed