[WCUSP] Fwd: WPA: Yeah for John Dingell, intro. legisl. to end war

[Odile Hugonot Haber]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: NO_REPLY at wpactivists.org <NO_REPLY at wpactivists.org>
Date: Oct 24, 2007 3:28 PM
Subject: WPA: Yeah for John Dingell, intro. legisl. to end war
To: odilehh at gmail.com




Posted By: Janine Easter
Category: Peace/Justice
Subject: Yeah for John Dingell, intro. legisl. to end warCongressman
Dingell's Introduced Legislation, 10/23/07



110TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. _______ (still pending)

To repeal the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq
Resolution of 2002 Public Law 107 243) and to require the withdrawal
of the United States Armed Forces in Iraq.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. DINGELL introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on ________

A BILL To repeal the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against
Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107 243) and to require the
withdrawal of the United States Armed Forces in Iraq.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the "Bring Our Troops Home Responsibly Act of 2007".

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:


(1) Prior to the initiation of the war in Iraq, the President cited
concerns about weapons of mass destruction programs as one
justification for the use of military force in Iraq. On October 6,
2004, the head of the Iraq Survey Group (ISG), Charles Duelfer,
announced to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate that the
group found no evidence that Iraq under Saddam Hussein had produced
and stockpiled any weapons of mass destruction since 1991.

(2) Prior to the initiation of the war in Iraq, the President cited
Saddam Hussein's role as a brutal dictator who tortured and killed
thousands of Iraqi civilians during his 20-year rule as a
justification for the use of military force in Iraq. Saddam Hussein
was captured by United States forces on December 13, 2003, convicted
of charges related to the execution of 148 Iraqi civilians on November
5, 2006, and executed on December 30, 2006.

(3) Prior to the initiation of the war in Iraq, the President cited
possible links between the Al-Qaeda terrorist network and Saddam
Hussein's government as a justification for the use of military force
in Iraq. Reports by the Central Intelligence Agency, the Defense
Intelligence Agency, and the Office of the Inspector General of the
Department of Defense have all concluded that there was little
evidence of any such links. While there is currently violence in Iraq
directed towards American troops, a September 2007 Congressional
Research Service report found that attacks by the group Al-Qaeda in
Iraq make up only a small percentage of the total number of attacks on
United States troops in Iraq.

(4) Prior to the initiation of the war in Iraq, the President cited
the importance of spreading democracy in the Middle East as a
justification for the use of military force in Iraq. On October 15,
2005, the Iraqi people voted to ratify a new constitution, on January
30, 2005, the Iraqi people elected 275 members of a newly created
Iraqi National Assembly, and on May 20, 2006, Nouri al-Maliki was
approved as Prime Minister of Iraq by the National Assembly and sworn
in.

(5) The President has failed to secure international support for the
continuing efforts in Iraq. While the President has executed a plan
known as the ``troop surge'', every other nation participating in the
occupation of Iraq is reducing troop levels. The United Kingdom has
reduced its troop levels from 45,000 to approximately 4,500. Twenty
nations that had once been members of the international coalition
contributing troops have completely withdrawn those troops from Iraq.

(6) The United States has accomplished all of the military goals
announced by the President at the outset of the war in Iraq. The brave
men and women of the Armed Forces have performed admirably, showing
both dedication to their mission and professionalism in carrying that
mission out.

(7) The Bush Administration has, at various times, confirmed that the
military goals of the war in Iraq were complete. On May 1, 2003, the
President stood in front of a banner reading ``Mission Accomplished''
and declared an end to major military operations in Iraq. On May 30,
2005, the Vice President stated in a television interview that the
insurgency was in its ``last throes''.

(8) It is clear that the American people are looking for a change in
strategy in Iraq--one that will allow the Nation to safely and
responsibly bring members of the Armed Forces home as quickly as
possible. However, the strategy outlined by the President in his
September 13, 2007, address makes it clear that the President has no
plan for substantially reducing the number of troops in Iraq while he
is in office. It is unconscionable for President Bush to leave this
situation for the next President to fix.

SEC. 3. REPEAL OF PUBLIC LAW 107 243.

The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of
2002 (Public Law 107 243) is hereby repealed.

SEC. 4. STATEMENT OF POLICY. It is the policy of the United States--

(1) that, based upon the findings of section 1, the United States has
accomplished those military goals that were established at the outset
of the use of military force in Iraq, and that it no longer benefits
the national security of the United States for members of the United
States Armed Forces to remain in Iraq;

(2) that the United States should begin withdrawing its Armed Forces
from Iraq in a safe, responsible, and orderly manner, and that such
withdrawal should begin no later than 30 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and should be accomplished by 12:00 p.m. on
January 20, 2009;

(3) that the congressionally mandated report produced by the Iraq
Study Group contains a set of recommendations which, if followed,
would assist the United States in accomplishing a troop withdrawal in
the most responsible manner possible and prepare the Iraqis to return
to full self-government;

(4) that it is the moral duty of the United States to continue
assisting the Government of Iraq in rebuilding and reconstruction
efforts, as well as efforts to find a lasting political solution to
the ongoing sectarian conflict that has occurred since the United
States military invasion of Iraq, and that doing so will require that
the United States engage in vigorous diplomatic efforts and the
engagement of other regional and global actors; and

(5) that the United States is further morally obligated to provide
humanitarian assistance for the millions of Iraqi refugees that have
been displaced since the beginning of the war in Iraq, especially
those Iraqi civilians who have become targets for violence because
they have worked with or assisted the United States military or the
Iraqi Government.

SEC. 5. WITHDRAWAL OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FROM IRAQ.

(a) Not more than 30 days after the date of the enactment of the Act,
the Secretary of Defense shall begin the withdrawal of members of the
Armed Forces from Iraq, and shall complete this withdrawal by 12:00
p.m. on January 20, 2009



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