Renews Call for “Iraqi Accountability Plan”

WASHINGTON – As the President meets with his national security team and on the heels of reports that the U.S. has exceeded 3,000 military casualties in Iraq, Congressman Bart Stupak (D-MI) is urging the Administration to reject calls for an increase in U.S. troops in Iraq.  Instead, Stupak called upon the Administration to adopt an “Iraqi Accountability Plan” that would end the conflict and bring American troops home. 

“Our current policy in Iraq has failed,” Stupak wrote.  “In reality, the situation in Iraq is worse that it has ever been, by almost any measure.” 

Stupak said that the facts on the ground led him to be particularly concerned by reports that the Administration is contemplating increasing the number of American troops in Iraq. 

“Sending more of our young men and women into harm’s way is exactly the wrong policy,” Stupak’s letter continues.  “By increasing our presence, we will invite even more attacks on American personnel and reinforce the idea that the United States is in Iraq as occupiers rather than liberators, leaving Iraqis more dependent on U.S. personnel for their security.  Instead of more troops, we need a plan to begin bringing our troops home and turning responsibility for Iraq over to the Iraqis.”

Stupak said such a plan would answer questions such as:

• How many Iraqi security forces have been trained and how many must be trained to take over security for Iraq?
• What construction and infrastructure projects must be completed before the U.S. can leave Iraq?
• What is the amount of food, medicine and humanitarian aid that Iraq will need to sustain its citizens until June 1, 2007?
• Since this is an internal Iraqi conflict, with whom does the U.S. sign a “peace accord” to end the war?

Stupak previously called on the Administration to commit to establishing an “Iraq Accountability Plan” in July and August of last year and in December of 2005.   With the President meeting with his national security team this week to develop a new plan for Iraq, the recent release of the Iraq Study Group report, the execution of Saddam Hussein and the news that American military casualties have now surpassed 3,000, Stupak said it was more important than ever that the Administration move swiftly to develop a plan for accountability plan in Iraq.

“I am asking you to reject any increase in American troops, and to lay out for the American people a clear plan for bringing our involvement in Iraq to an end… I look forward to reviewing your plan to establish a new direction in Iraq and to bring our brave troops home,” Stupak’s letter concludes.

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January 5, 2007

President George W. Bush

The White House

Washington, DC 20502

Dear Mr. President:

As you and your security advisors meet this week to discuss a new direction for our policy in Iraq, I am writing to urge you to reject calls for an increase in U.S. troops in Iraq. As President, you have the responsibility to put forth a clear, concrete “Iraqi Accountability Plan” to end the war and bring American troops home. 

Our current policy in Iraq has failed.  According to the most recent Department of Defense Quarterly Report to Congress, attacks in Iraq averaged almost 1,000 per week between August 12th and November 10th, the highest level on record.  As of today’s date, more than 3,000 American soldiers have been killed, and 22,565 have been wounded.  This escalating number of U.S. casualties has brought no improvement in Iraq’s security.  In reality, the situation in Iraq is worse than it has ever been, by almost any measure.

In light of these facts, I was disturbed to learn that your administration is considering increasing the number of American troops in Iraq.  Sending more of our young men and women into harm’s way is exactly the wrong policy.  By increasing our presence, we will invite even more attacks on American personnel and reinforce the idea that the United States is in Iraq as occupiers rather than liberators, leaving Iraqis more dependent on U.S. personnel for their security.  Instead of more troops, we need a plan to begin bringing our troops home and turning responsibility for Iraq over to the Iraqis.

In my previous letters to you, dated July 20 and August 2, I urged you to announce and commit to an “Iraqi Accountability Plan.”  I am renewing my call for such a plan, which would create a checklist for the goals the United States needs to complete, and an estimate of the resources that will be needed to complete these goals.  Again, I believe that such a plan needs to answer 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?

At this point, American presence is fueling the ongoing violence in Iraq rather than preventing it.  Only the Iraqis themselves can solve their own internal conflicts and bring peace and stability to their country.   I am asking you to reject any increase in American troops, and to lay out for the American people a clear plan for bringing our involvement in Iraq to an end.  I thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to reviewing your plan to establish a new direction in Iraq and to bring our brave troops home.

Sincerely,

BART STUPAK

Member of Congress