TANNER BILL DEMANDS NEW IRAQ STRATEGY

After successful U.S. military mission, Iraqis must take control

 2002 authorization different from current mission, bill says

WASHINGTON – Congressman John Tanner introduced a bill Wednesday that demands a new Iraq strategy from President Bush and his military advisors now that the U.S. Armed Forces has completed the initial mission: the removal of Saddam Hussein. Tanner introduced the bill with six other members of the U.S. House.

“Our military has performed magnificently in every task that has been asked of them,” said Rep. Tanner, a veteran of the U.S. Navy and Tennessee National Guard, and the chairman of the U.S. delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. “The latest reports show the Iraqi government is unable or unwilling to work together to manage its own country, though General David Petraeus has said that a ‘political aspect’ is vital to achieving victory in Iraq. President Bush must present a clear strategy for resolving the political strife and handing control of Iraq to the Iraqi people.”

The resolution, H.R. 3087: 

• recognizes that the U.S. Armed Forces and U.S. civilians have worked valiantly, and that it is time for Iraq to manage its future;

• notes that when Congress authorized military force in 2002, it was concerned about an Iraqi government that has since been removed from power;

• states that the new, freely-elected Iraqi government poses no threat to the United States;

• gives the President 60 days to present a new plan moving U.S. combat forces out of policing sectarian violence and into a mission of fighting terrorists;

• calls for the redeployment of U.S. troops not needed for the mission to find and fight terrorists.

The full text of the bill follows:

A BILL

To require the President, in coordination with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other senior military leaders, to develop and transmit to Congress a comprehensive strategy for the redeployment of United States Armed Forces in Iraq.

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:

(1) The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107–243), enacted into law on October 16, 2002, authorized the President to use the Armed Forces as the President determined necessary and appropriate in order to defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by the Government of Iraq at that time.

(2) The Government of Iraq which was in power at the time the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 was enacted into law has been removed from power and its leader indicted, tried, convicted, and executed by the new freely-elected democratic Government of Iraq.

(3) The current Government of Iraq does not pose a threat to the United States or its interests.

(4) After more than four years of valiant efforts by members of the Armed Forces and United States civilians, the Government of Iraq must now be responsible for Iraq’s future course.

SEC. 2. COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY FOR THE REDEPLOYMENT OF THE ARMED FORCES IN IRAQ. 

(a) Strategy required.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act , the President, in coordination with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other senior military leaders, shall develop and transmit to Congress a comprehensive strategy for the redeployment of the Armed Forces in Iraq.

(b) Matters to be included.--The strategy required by subsection shall include planning to achieve the following:

(1) The transition of United States combat forces from policing civil strife or sectarian violence in Iraq.

(2) United States military operations to deny international terrorists a safe haven, conduct counterterrorism operations against al Qaeda in Iraq and other global terrorist organizations, protect the Armed Forces and facilities of the Armed Forces, and support and equip Iraqi forces to take full responsibility for their own security.

(3) A projection of the number of members of the Armed Forces required for the missions described in paragraphs (1) and (2).

(4) The safe redeployment of the Armed Forces and the orderly removal of material, equipment, and logistical requirements not needed for the missions described in paragraphs (1) and (2).

SEC. 3. ARMED FORCES DEFINED.

In this Act, the term Armed Forces has the meaning given the term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code.

Tanner represents Tennessee’s 8^th Congressional district in west and middle Tennessee, home to 20 National Guard armories, Naval Support Activity Mid-South in Millington, the Milan Army Arsenal and a portion of Fort Campbell Army Base, home to the 101^st Airborne Division.

He serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and as chairman of the U.S. delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the legislative branch of the NATO alliance.

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Contact: Randy Ford, 202.225.4714