Total withdrawal from Iraq by end of 2006 Amendment !!!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-me-kerry2jun02,1,2233200.story?coll=la-news-a_section&ctrack=1&cset=true

Kerry Attacks Bush Over Iraq Policies
The administration's choice of confrontation instead of diplomacy has harmed the U.S., the senator says in a speech in Los Angeles.
By Ashraf Khalil, Times Staff Writer
June 2, 2006


Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) harshly criticized the Bush administration for "disdaining diplomacy" in favor of a confrontational and unilateral foreign policy that has hurt the United States' standing around the world and made it less safe.

In a speech Thursday in Los Angeles, the former (and perhaps future) Democratic Party presidential candidate warned that the mistakes of Iraq must not be repeated in the current standoff with Iran.

"War is the ultimate failure of diplomacy," Kerry told a gathering of the Pacific Council on International Policy. "Yet our current leadership has arrogantly discarded this basic principle…. All too often they disdained diplomacy as little more than an inconvenient detour on the chosen path to armed conflict."

The result, he said, was an ill-advised rush to war in Iraq that alienated other governments and diminished sympathy for the U.S. generated by the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. America's current isolation, and the presence of thousands of U.S. troops in Iraq, is "playing right into Iranian hands…. The Iranians are delighted," Kerry said.

snip
Kerry, who voted to give President Bush authorization to use force against Saddam Hussein in 2002, said he would attach an amendment to this summer's defense appropriations bill calling for a total withdrawal of U.S. combat troops by the end of this year. But he acknowledged that the idea would be unpopular. "I know I'm not going to get the majority of my own caucus."

[MH1]

1. Also, Senate Joint Resolution 36

SJ Res 36

In the Kerry forum it's reported there's a new email asking folks to call their senators to support -
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=273&topic_id=89416&mesg_id=89416


Edit because link to bill wasn't working the first time

[MH1]

3. Text of S J Res 36

Providing a strategy for stabilizing Iraq and withdrawing United States troops. (Introduced in Senate)

SJ 36 IS


109th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. J. RES. 36
Providing a strategy for stabilizing Iraq and withdrawing United States troops.


IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 8, 2006
Mr. KERRY introduced the following joint resolution; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


JOINT RESOLUTION
Providing a strategy for stabilizing Iraq and withdrawing United States troops.

Whereas the men and women of the Armed Forces have performed with valor, honor, and courage in Iraq;

Whereas a national unity government and a comprehensive political agreement among Shias, Sunnis, and Kurds are essential to end sectarian violence, undermine the insurgency, and bring stability to Iraq;

Whereas, on April 22, 2006, the Iraqi National Assembly approved senior leaders of a national unity government, including Jawad al-Mailiki as Prime Minister;

Whereas, under the Iraqi constitution, the Prime Minister has 30 days to form a government;

Whereas a comprehensive political agreement must resolve fundamental issues dividing Iraqis and undermining stability, including federalism, oil revenues, the militias, security guarantees, reconstruction, and border security;

Whereas reaching a comprehensive agreement that will help bring stability to Iraq is in the best interests of Iraq's neighbors, the region, and the international community;

Whereas Iraq's neighbors, representatives of the Arab League, and the international community as represented by NATO, the European Union, and the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council can assist in the process of bringing about such a comprehensive agreement;

Whereas the commander of the Multinational Forces-Iraq, General George Casey, testified before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate on September 29, 2005, that `(i)ncreased coalition presence feeds the notion of occupation ... contributes to the dependency of Iraqi security forces on the coalition ... (and) ... extends the amount of time that it will take for Iraqi security forces to become self-reliant';

Whereas the overwhelming majority of Iraqis wants the United States forces to withdraw from Iraq;

Whereas the Armed Forces have established a training program for the security forces of Iraq that continues to make possible the assumption of security responsibilities by such security forces; and

Whereas the withdrawal of United States forces under a schedule agreed upon with the new Government of Iraq would strengthen and legitimize that government, enable the Iraqis to become more self-reliant, and undermine support for the insurgency: Now, therefore, be it


Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That--

(1) United States forces shall be withdrawn from Iraq at the earliest practicable date if Iraqis fail to form a national unity government by May 22, 2006;

(2) if Iraqis form a national unity government by May 22, 2006--

(A) the United States shall reach an agreement as soon as possible with such government on a schedule for the withdrawal of United States combat troops from Iraq by December 31, 2006, leaving only forces that are critical to completing the mission of standing up Iraqi security forces; and

(B) the President shall consult with Congress on this schedule and shall present such withdrawal agreement to Congress immediately upon completion of the agreement;

(3) the President, not later than 30 days after the date of the formation of a new national unity government in Iraq, should convene a summit that includes the leaders of that government, leaders of the governments of each country bordering Iraq, representatives of the Arab League, the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, representatives of the European Union, and leaders of the governments of each permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, for the purpose of reaching a comprehensive political agreement for Iraq that addresses fundamental issues including federalism, oil revenues, the militias, security guarantees, reconstruction, economic assistance, and border security; and

(4) the United States should maintain an over-the-horizon military presence to prosecute the war on terror and protect regional security interests.

[ProSense]

4. Kerry: Call your Senators

It's as simple as this. Most members of Congress, myself included, share some responsibility for getting us into Iraq. We've got to take responsibility for getting us out.

Since April, hundreds of thousands of you have joined me in calling for a change in policy, a change in course -- for Iraq, and for Americans here at home. Now let's turn the volume up higher. Washington needs to hear your voice.

The violence continues to spiral in Iraq. But, instead of a deadline to bring our troops home and put the future of Iraq in the hands of Iraqi leaders, we get half-hearted comments about past mistakes, and cynical political calculation.

Last month, I introduced Senate Joint Resolution 36 which calls for the withdrawal of our combat troops from Iraq by the end of this year. In the next few weeks, I am urging the Senate to take a strong stand on Iraq and pass this Resolution. It's time to put the future of Iraq where it belongs - in the hands of the Iraqi people and their leaders. Our valiant soldiers have done their job.

Tell your Senators: support Senate Joint Resolution 36 to bring our combat troops home in 2006

President Bush wants to stumble along, perpetuating his mistakes for the remainder of his time in office. He's even suggested that decisions about withdrawing all of our troops from Iraq will be for the next president to make.

And, instead of statesmanship, the president's top advisor, Karl Rove, is worrying that the war has put voters in a "sour mood" for the 2006 elections. He should be worried about the safety of our troops, not the job security of Republican congressmen.

It took President Bush three years to admit he was wrong to say 'bring it on.' We can't afford years to go by until he admits the standstill in Iraq today is wrong.

Tell your Senators: support Senate Joint Resolution 36 to bring our combat troops home in 2006

After months of squabbling and delay, we now hear that the new Iraqi government will complete its cabinet in a matter of days. So, it's time to act -- time to keep the pressure on.

Iraqi leaders have only responded to deadlines -- a deadline to transfer authority to a provisional government, a deadline to hold three elections, and their own constitutional deadline to establish a unity government.

Now we must set another deadline to get our combat troops out and get Iraq up on its own two feet. We must agree with the new Iraqi government on a schedule for withdrawing American combat forces by the end of this year.

Doing so will empower the new Iraqi leadership, put Iraqis in the position of running their own country, and undermine support for the insurgency, which is fueled in large measure by the majority of Iraqis who want us to leave their country.

Tell your Senators: support Senate Joint Resolution 36 to bring our combat troops home in 2006

Our soldiers have done their job, and America is grateful to them for their honor and sacrifice. Now it's time for the Iraqis to do their job of securing and governing their country and it is time to get our combat troops home in 2006. Only troops essential to finishing the job of training Iraqi forces should remain.

We need blunt talk and clear plans -- and only pressure from you can force Washington to change course.

I am committed to forcing Congress to speak out on Iraq. Yesterday in Los Angeles I made it clear that I'm not going to stop fighting until we have a change in policy. I urge you to keep supporting our efforts to force action when lives are on the line and leadership is desperately needed.

Sincerely,

John Kerry

[ProSense]

5. "only pressure from you can force Washington to change course." n/t

[monarch]

2. I'd even support a constitutional amendment

outlawing presidential "signing statements." Only problem is that if somebody introduced such an amendment while that facist Bush is office, he would use the idea of anybody even talking about such an amendment to support his claim that he has that authority right now. The amendment would have to be very carefully drawn to avoid that idea.

[MH1]

6. ..

:dem:

Gee, DU's gone rather silent on getting our troops out of Iraq.

[Terran1212]

7. Wasn't he supposed to get us out by May?

Nice Kerry more unfulfilled promises.

[ProSense]

8. Where did you read that? n/t

[sandnsea]

9. He keeps pushing to start bringing troops home

He wanted 20,000 out over Christmas and we didn't get behind that. Hell he wanted to start pulling troops out in 2005 and we didn't get behind that either. May 22 has come and gone so he is continuing to insist that complete withdrawal is the goal and we would be wise not to let another opportunity to end the war pass us by.