[Peace-discuss] Iraq: Senate Bars Permanent Bases, Again - FCNL

Fri Jun 23 15:54:50 CDT 2006

Note that according to the Times article cited below (
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2239088,00.html) the peace deal
that the Iraqi govt is about to propose endorses a timetable for the
withdrawal of all foreign troops -- the position considered off the table
inside the Beltway-

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Joe Volk <joevolk at fcnl.org>
Date: Jun 23, 2006 4:09 PM
Subject: Iraq: Senate Bars Permanent Bases, Again - FCNL
To: Robert Naiman <naiman.uiuc at gmail.com>

       Iraq: Senate Bars Permanent Bases, Again

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version<http://www.fcnl.org/issues/item_print.php?item_id=1933&issue_id=35>

We are in the middle of a long legislative struggle to persuade Congress to
change the course of U.S. policy in Iraq. But the Senate decision Thursday
night, June 22, to reinstate the ban on permanent U.S. military bases and
the news from Iraq that the new government is developing a strategy for
reconciliation that includes a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops
provide us reason for hope. Here's what's happening:

*Your phone calls, emails, and lobbying are working.* For the second time in
less than two months, the Senate passed legislation that bars the U.S. from
establishing permanent military bases in Iraq. This new success for the FCNL
STEP proposal <http://www.fcnl.org/issues/item.php?item_id=1353&issue_id=35>came
during the day-long Senate debate Thursday on
U.S. policy in Iraq. Late Thursday evening, the Senate incorporated Sen.
Joseph Biden's provision into the military authorization bill banning
permanent U.S. bases. The Biden provision was placed in the bill manager's
package shortly after the Senate voted to reject two other amendments that
would have initiated the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

Meanwhile,* in Iraq the new government has concluded that establishing a
timeline for the withdrawal of all foreign forces will be an important
component of any effort to establish peace and begin the process of national
reconciliation.* The Iraqi government, according to reports by the *Times of
London* <http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2239088,00.html>, will
propose this weekend a 28 point plan for national reconciliation that
includes (1) a timeline for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Iraq;
(2) a halt to all U.S. offensive military operations; (3) an end to human
rights violations, including those by U.S. and Iraqi troops; and (4) an
amnesty.

The Iraqi government believes it can draw violent, anti-government insurgent
forces into negotiations that could lead to national reconciliation by
bringing opposing parties off the battle ground and into the political
arena. But, here in Washington, the Bush administration refuses to even
discuss timelines for withdrawal, seeking a total military victory over all
opponents.

*We need to change the conversation here in Washington from how does the U.S.
win to how does the U.S. leave Iraq.* Our experience of the last few months
demonstrates just how hard this work is, and how many more emails, phone
calls, and lobby visits are needed. As the Senate votes on Thursday
demonstrate, the majority in Congress still refuses to support a timetable
for withdrawal from Iraq. But we believe congressional support for
withdrawal is growing.

The House and the Senate voted earlier this year to attach language to an
emergency supplemental spending bill banning new spending to build permanent
U.S. military bases in Iraq. And although the Pentagon successfully lobbied
behind closed doors to have that ban on permanent bases removed from the
supplemental bill, the Senate this week added Sen. Biden's amendment to the
Defense Authorization Bill (S. 2766). *The Biden amendment declares: "No
funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act maybe obligated or expended
for a purpose as follows: (1) to establish a permanent United States
military installation or base in Iraq; (2) To exercise United States control
over the oil resources of Iraq."*

The House of Representatives has inserted similar language into two other
bills currently making their way through the House. For continuing updates
on Iraq legislation<http://www.fcnl.org/issues/item.php?item_id=1919&issue_id=35>visit
our website.

*Now for the hard part.* The Biden provision is in the Defense Authorization
Bill approved by the Senate. House and the Senate negotiators must now meet
to reconcile differences between their two versions of the military
authorization bill. We at FCNL know this reconciliation, or conference
committee process, will be crucial because of our previous experience with
the emergency supplemental funding legislation earlier this month, when the
Pentagon worked behind closed doors to have the no base language removed.

FCNL will be working in the next month to lobby Congress to ensure that the
conference committee retains the ban on permanent U.S. military bases in the
Defense Authorization Bill this time. In addition, FCNL will urge Congress
to take the next step by enacting legislation that states:

   - It is the U.S. policy to remove all U.S. military troops and bases
   from Iraq;
   - Requires an immediate timetable for the complete withdrawal of all
   U.S. military troops and bases from Iraq no later than December 2007;
   and
   - Provides resources for reconstruction by the people of Iraq through
   appropriate multinational, Iraqi national, and other Iraqi agencies.

Please check back on our web page <http://www.fcnl.org/iraq/> for regular
updates.

________________________________________

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________________________________________

*Friends Committee on National Legislation*
245 Second St. NE, Washington, DC 20002-5795
fcnl at fcnl.org * http://www.fcnl.org
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-- 
Robert Naiman
Just Foreign Policy
www.justforeignpolicy.org
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