Representative Bart Stupak's (MI01)- Stupak Presses Administration for Iraqi Accountability Plan

Washington, DC – Congressman Bart Stupak (D-MI) has again called on President Bush and the Administration to enter into discussions with the new Iraqi government to develop an Iraqi Accountability Plan that would transfer responsibility for the security of the country to the Iraqi government.

“The United States has provided the Iraqis with an opportunity for freedom, democracy, and self-governance, but only the Iraqi people can set forth these principles in their country,” wrote Stupak. “Iraq’s parliamentary election, which marks the birth of a promising democracy, should serve as motivation for us to implement our own Iraqi Accountability Plan, which will enable the people of Iraq to embrace and nurture their own government.”

The letter, which is below, outlines nine areas that the Iraq Accountability Plan should take into account. Stupak asked that the plan detail what construction and infrastructure projects must be completed before the U.S. can exit Iraq; what amount of food, medicine and humanitarian aid Iraq will need to sustain its citizens; given the internal nature of the war, with whom the U.S. would sign a “peace accord” to end the war; whether the Iraqi government anticipates the need for U.S. military forces after June 1, 2007 and after the signing of a peace accord; and what other factors must be considered to complete an Iraqi Accountability Plan.

In addition, the Stupak letter asks whether the President or any Administration representatives had discussed the possibility of an amnesty plan for Iraqis who have attacked, killed, maimed, wounded or kidnapped U.S. troops and American citizens in Iraq. Media reports from the week of June 15th stated that there is already a tacit understanding between the Iraqi government and the U.S. on amnesty. More recently, it has been widely reported that Iraq’s Prime Minister has proposed amnesty for those Iraqis who have attacked Americans as part of a 12 point reconciliation plan.

“The Administration should come clean with the American people on the idea of pardoning killers that attack our troops and citizens,” said Stupak. “I want to know what the President knew about amnesty and when he knew it.”

Stupak went on to note that an amnesty proposal flies in the face of basic democratic principles.

“The Administration has said we are fighting to build a democracy in Iraq,” Stupak noted. “Democracies are built on the rule of law, not on granting amnesty to terrorists, torturers, kidnappers and murderers.”

President George W. Bush

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20502

Dear Mr. President:

This past Memorial Day was a sobering reminder of the price that Americans have paid to secure our freedoms. It was also an opportunity to reflect on the price that America and her soldiers and families continue to pay for the war in Iraq. The families of northern Michigan are no strangers to sacrifice, and they are always willing to answer America’s call. Therefore, I am asking you to lay out in plain language a plan to bring our soldiers home from Iraq, and explain what concrete, measurable steps you will take to make that plan a reality.

The costs of our engagement in Iraq have already gone far beyond the estimates given in 2003. The indirect costs may be much, much greater: up to $2 trillion, according to an article published by economists Linda Bilmes and Joseph Stiglitz in January of this year. These staggering costs come at a time when we are already struggling with record budget deficits.

The human cost continues to rise as well. As of Memorial Day, 2,470 American soldiers have been killed in Iraq, and 18,184 have been wounded. In addition, the war is taking a terrible psychological toll on our young men and women. One in three report needing psychological help upon returning home, and it is not yet clear that our veterans’ health care system has the resources and expertise to meet these new veterans' needs. Iraq continues to be the site of daily violence, and credible estimates suggest that over 30,000 Iraqis have lost their lives in the fighting thus far.

I join you in congratulating the Iraqis on the formation of a democratically elected government, and I am encouraged by the signs of increased Iraqi unity following the death of the terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. However, I think that these events should serve as a signal that it is time to let the Iraqi people take charge of their own destiny. The United States has provided the Iraqis with the opportunity to achieve freedom, democracy, and self-governance for their nation, but only the Iraqi people can put those principles into action.

Therefore, I urge you to enter into discussions with the new Iraqi government and together, lay out a clear and accountable plan for ending our engagement in Iraq within 12 months. This Iraqi Accountability Plan should answer, at a minimum, the following questions:

1) How many Iraq security forces have been trained, and how many must be trained to take over security for Iraq?

2) What construction and infrastructure projects must be completed before the U.S. can leave Iraq?

3) What is the amount of food, medicine, and humanitarian aid Iraq will need to sustain its citizens until June 1, 2007?

4) Since this is an internal Iraqi conflict, with whom does the U.S. sign a “peace accord” to end the war?

5) What steps must be taken to ensure that the “peace accord” is completed and signed by June 1, 2007?

6) Does the Iraqi government anticipate the need for U.S. military forces after June 1, 2007, and after the “peace accord” is signed?

7) Have you or any of your representatives proposed or discussed an amnesty for Iraqis who have killed American troops, as was reported in the Washington Post on June 15, 2006?

8) If an amnesty has been discussed with Iraqi officials, who within your Administration discussed it, and by what authority?

9) What other factors must be considered to complete an Iraqi Accountability Plan and U.S. troop removal from Iraq by June 1, 2007?

I believe that in order for the principles of democracy to take hold in Iraq, the target of the insurgency, our U.S. troops, must be removed.

The United States has provided the Iraqis with an opportunity for freedom, democracy, and self-governance, but only the Iraqi people can set forth these principles in their country. Iraq’s parliamentary election, which marks the birth of a promising democracy, should serve as motivation for us to implement our own Iraqi Accountability Plan, which will enable the people of Iraq to embrace and nurture their own government.

I thank you for your consideration, and look forward to a response to the proposed Iraqi Accountability Plan.

Enclosure: “Iraq Amnesty Plan May Cover Attacks On U.S. Military,” Washington Post, 6/15/06

Stupak Presses Administration for Iraqi Accountability Plan;