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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1329 Introduced in House (IH)]

110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1329

 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United 
 States should accept the Iraqi Government's stated goal of setting a 
   timetable for withdrawal of United States Armed Forces from Iraq.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 10, 2008

   Mr. Ellison (for himself, Mr. Oberstar, Ms. Lee, Ms. Woolsey, Ms. 
Kilpatrick, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Price of North Carolina, 
 Mr. Conyers, Ms. Clarke, Mr. Farr, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. Honda, Ms. Eddie 
   Bernice Johnson of Texas, Ms. Watson, Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Jackson of 
 Illinois, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Hare, Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas, 
Mr. Gutierrez, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Abercrombie, Mr. Hodes, 
and Mr. Fattah) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
                   to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United 
 States should accept the Iraqi Government's stated goal of setting a 
   timetable for withdrawal of United States Armed Forces from Iraq.

Whereas on April 13, 2004, President Bush said ``As a proud and independent 
        people, Iraqis do not support an indefinite occupation, and neither does 
        America.'';
Whereas on October 25, 2006, in response to a question whether the United States 
        wanted to maintain permanent military bases in Iraq, President Bush 
        stated ``Any decisions on permanency in Iraq will be made by the Iraqi 
        government.'';
Whereas on July 7, 2008, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki spoke with Arab 
        ambassadors about a security pact being negotiated to determine the 
        future United States military role in Iraq, telling the ambassadors 
        ``The current trend is to reach an agreement on a memorandum of 
        understanding either for the departure of the forces or a memorandum of 
        understanding to put a timetable on their withdrawal.'';
Whereas on July 8, 2008, Iraqi Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said that a 
        deadline should be set for the withdrawal of United States and allied 
        forces from Iraq, with a timetable;
Whereas the Iraqi Government spokesman emphasized that although Iraq did not 
        have a specific date in mind, it was important to agree on the principle 
        of setting a deadline;
Whereas Iraqi National Security Advisor Mowaffak al-Rubaie stated on July 8, 
        2008, that the Iraqi Government would not sign an agreement governing 
        the future role of United States Armed Forces in Iraq unless it includes 
        a timetable for withdrawal, emphasizing that Iraq was ``impatiently 
        waiting'' for the complete withdrawal of United States forces;
Whereas Prime Minister al-Maliki has stated any agreement regarding a United 
        States military role in Iraq will be based on ``respect for the full 
        sovereignty of Iraq'';
Whereas a clear statement that the United States does not seek a long-term or 
        permanent presence in Iraq would send a strong signal to the people of 
        Iraq and the international community that the United States fully 
        supports the efforts of the Iraqi people to exercise full national 
        sovereignty, including control over security and public safety; and
Whereas the Government of Iraq has stated its expectation that the United States 
        Armed Forces should withdraw from Iraq and has emphasized the importance 
        of the principle of setting a deadline or timetable for withdrawal: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) the United States should not maintain a military 
        presence in Iraq without the approval of Congress; and
            (2) it should be the policy of the United States to accept 
        the principle of setting a deadline or timetable for withdrawal 
        of United States military forces from Iraq.
                                 <all>
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