Snowe and Bayh propose Iraq benchmarks bill

[jefferson_dem]

Moderate GOP Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine has announced legislation that will require troop redeployment if the Iraqi government has not met specific benchmarks. After a weekend trip to Iraq, Snowe said. "I am more convinced than ever before that the Iraqi government doesn't understand that our commitment is not infinite." Democratic Senator Evan Bayh is the bill's co-sponsor.

The benchmarks the Iraqi government must meet include, "Iraqi assumption control of its military, disarming and demobilizing sectarian militias, holding a referendum on amendments to the Iraqi constitution that ensure participation by all religious and ethnic groups, holding provincial elections, enacting oil revenue sharing, and reforming de-Ba'athification," according to a release.

Under the Snowe-Bayh bill, General Petraeus would have to report on progress toward the benchmarks 120 days after the bill's enactment. The Government Accountability Office would then assess Iraqi progress. If the Iraqis failed to meet any one of the milestones, Petraeus would then have to submit a plan to withdraw most troops, excluding those for force protection, counter insurgency, and support and training of Iraqi forces.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/09/186307.aspx