[Peace-discuss] Tim Johnson did something good on Iran!

[Robert Naiman]

Note that Tim Johnson is an *original co-sponsor* of this bipartisan
resolution, which is being promoted by the Friends Committee on
National Legislation and other groups trying to prevent war with Iran
and push for real diplomacy.

Please join me in thanking Rep. Johnson for taking this very helpful action.

Washington, D.C.
ph: (202) 225-2371

Champaign
ph: (217) 403-4690

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 H. Con. Res. 321: "Expressing the need for a more comprehensive
  diplomatic initiative led by the United States, Iraq, and the
  international community." (Introduced in House, April 2nd) Bi-partisan
  bill with Gilchrest, Murtha, Cummings, Jones of North Carolina, Meeks,
  Johnson of Illinois, Reyes, Shays, English, Kaptur, Baldwin.

  Bill supporting comprehensive diplomacy with Iraq's neighbors and
  regional players and int'l organizations. This is the specific to
  Iran part:

  (i) implementing recommendation 9, which states, `Under the aegis of
  the New Diplomatic Offensive and the Support Group, the United States
  should engage directly with Iran and Syria in order to try to obtain
  their commitment to constructive policies toward Iraq and other
  regional issues. In engaging with Syria and Iran, the United States
  should consider incentives, as well as disincentives, in seeking
  constructive results';

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  HCON 321 IH

  110th CONGRESS

  2d Session

  H. CON. RES. 321

  Expressing the need for a more comprehensive diplomatic initiative led
  by the United States, Iraq, and the international community.

  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

  April 2, 2008

  Mr. GILCHREST (for himself, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. JONES of North Carolina,
  Mr. MEEKS of New York, Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois, Mr. MURTHA, Mr. REYES,
  Mr. SHAYS, Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsylvania, Ms. KAPTUR, and Ms. BALDWIN)
  submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to
  the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on
  Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
  within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

  CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

  Expressing the need for a more comprehensive diplomatic initiative led
  by the United States, Iraq, and the international community.

  Whereas it is in the foreign policy and national security interests of
  the United States to foster and strengthen peace and security in Iraq
  and the broader Middle East region, which will require a more
  comprehensive international support structure involving Iraq's
  neighboring countries, other pertinent and influential countries in
  and outside the region, international organizations, and
  nongovernmental organizations;

  Whereas the removal of Saddam Hussein has resulted in a fundamental
  change in the composition and structure of Iraq's Government, and of
  provincial and tribal leadership;

  Whereas the removal of Saddam Hussein has resulted in violent
  multi-layered conflicts of varying insurgencies, counter-insurgencies,
  and other armed competitions that exist today along religious,
  cultural, and economic lines;

  Whereas the removal of Saddam Hussein has fundamentally altered the
  relationship between Iraq and neighboring countries, thereby affecting
  the balance of power in the region;

  Whereas the removal of Saddam Hussein has resulted in the democratic
  election of the Government of Iraq where nearly 7,000,000 Iraqis
  participated in the voting process;

  Whereas elements and actions from outside Iraq's borders, including
  neighboring countries, terrorist groups, and rogue elements continue
  to impede progress towards a more stable and sovereign Iraq;

  Whereas Iraqis, with the unrelenting military support from the United
  States, are facing difficulties to achieve political reconciliation
  and to independently govern;

  Whereas the Iraq Study Group stated that `a regional peace conference
  among Arab nations is a critically important step in helping to end
  the civil war in Iraq, and bringing peace and stability in the Middle
  East';

  Whereas General Petraeus recently stated in congressional testimony
  that `any student of history recognizes there is no military solution
  to a problem like that in Iraq, to the insurgency in Iraq'; and

  Whereas finding a responsible and strategic way forward in Iraq will
  require international support: Now, therefore, be it

  Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
  concurring), That Congress--

  (1) declares that a more comprehensive international
  support structure must be established to engage Iraq's political,
  religious, ethnic, and tribal leaders in an ongoing inclusive
  political reconciliation and reconstruction process;

  (2) declares that the current drawdown and eventual
  departure of the United States Armed Forces in Iraq be performed in a
  strategic and responsible manner, in consultation with the Government
  of Iraq, and must be supported by a comprehensive international and
  regional diplomatic initiative;

  (3) encourages the President and the administration,
  jointly with Iraq, to initiate, develop, and implement a sustained
  comprehensive regional and multilateral diplomatic plan of action, in
  conjunction with the United Nations Security Council, the United
  Nations Secretary General, Iraq's neighboring countries, regional
  organizations as the Arab League, the Organization of the Islamic
  Conference, and appropriate nongovernmental organizations, relating to
  issues and actions that impact the situation in Iraq, including--

  (A) promoting a national process of reconciliation
  within Iraq;

  (B) curtailing the ongoing civil strife in Iraq that
  has created insurgency groups amongst civilian militias and related
  civil organizations;

  (C) preventing the spread of violence from Iraq into
  neighboring countries and fostering a collective security arrangement
  between Iraq with neighboring countries to secure Iraq's sovereign
  integrity and border security;

  (D) preventing genocide, ethnic cleansing, and other
  crimes against humanity;

  (E) preventing the establishment of safe havens for
  al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations;

  (F) continuing to provide assistance to the Iraqi
  Security Forces, including military training, education, equipment and
  technical support, and to encourage the United Nations and regional
  allies to support this coordinated effort if the Iraqi Government
  supports this strategic arrangement; and

  (G) supporting the formation of an international
  consortium for relief and reconstruction in Iraq;

  (4) urges the President and the administration, jointly
  with Iraq, the United Nations, and regional organizations, to
  expeditiously engage in bilateral and multilateral talks and
  conferences with Iraq's neighboring countries, and specifically--

  (A) recommends the implementation of the
  International Compact for Iraq and recommendations 9 and 13 of the
  Iraq Study Group Report, including--

  (i) implementing recommendation 9, which
  states, `Under the aegis of the New Diplomatic Offensive and the
  Support Group, the United States should engage directly with Iran and
  Syria in order to try to obtain their commitment to constructive
  policies toward Iraq and other regional issues. In engaging with Syria
  and Iran, the United States should consider incentives, as well as
  disincentives, in seeking constructive results'; and

  (ii) implementing recommendation 13, which
  states, `There must be a renewed and sustained commitment by the
  United States to a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace on all fronts';

  (5) remains resolved that the interests of the people of
  Iraq, United States allies, and the greater Middle East region should
  be paramount in establishing regional and international assistance and
  aid to ensure the unity and integrity of Iraq so as to safeguard the
  establishment of a cohesive government in Iraq;

  (6) encourages the international community, regional
  organizations, and the United States, in consultation with the
  Government of Iraq, to continue efforts to strengthen the Iraqi
  Security Forces and, to the extent practicable, to police human rights
  violations;

  (7) recognizes that as part of a diplomatic initiative in
  Iraq, the President should transmit to the Congress, in classified and
  unclassified form, a comprehensive regional stability plan for Iraq,
  which shall include diplomatic, political, and economic strategic
  measures;

  (8) urges sustained commitment of Iraq, the United States,
  countries in the Middle East, and the international community, in
  consultation with the United Nations and pertinent regional and
  non-governmental organizations, to develop and raise funding for the
  reconstruction of Iraq and to provide relief to the Iraqi people,
  including for purposes of--

  (A) assisting efforts to deal with the humanitarian
  impact of the war in Iraq, particularly civilian displacement and
  Iraqi refugees;

  (B) developing an Iraq corps of engineers;

  (C) encouraging the use of Iraqi engineers,
  contractors, tradesmen, and construction workers in the reconstruction
  process;

  (D) surveying and performing proper restoration of
  Iraq's world cultural sites;

  (E) supporting efforts by the Iraqi Government for
  an equitable distribution of oil revenues to the Iraqi people; and

  (F) encouraging initiatives to assist in rebuilding
  Iraq's infrastructure, including public health, transportation,
  physical plants, educational, and utilities systems;

  (9) expresses its deep and sincere gratitude to the
  coalition forces and other international supporters for their
  contribution and sacrifice in the collective efforts to bring peace
  and stability to Iraq;

  (10) expresses its sincere condolences to the families of
  the many Iraqis who have died, and to the many Iraqis who have been
  displaced or wounded in their struggle to gain a measure of freedom; and

  (11) recognizes that the United States Government and the
  American people owe a debt of gratitude to the young men and women who
  have honorably served in Iraq and now deserve comprehensive
  rehabilitation, physical, mental, educational, and economic assistance.