III 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 437 

Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the positive effect of the upcoming Iraqi parliamentary elections on Iraq’s political reconciliation and 

democratic institutions. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 4, 2010 

Mr. KERRY (for himself, Mr. MCCAIN, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr. LUGAR, Mr. 

CASEY, Mr. GRAHAM, and Mr. KAUFMAN) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the positive 

effect of the upcoming Iraqi parliamentary elections on 

Iraq’s political reconciliation and democratic institutions. 

Whereas on February 27th, 2009, President Obama declared 

that the United States’ ‘‘clear and achievable goal’’ is 

‘‘an Iraq that is sovereign, stable, and self-reliant’’ and 

that the United States will achieve that goal by working 

‘‘to promote an Iraqi government that is just, representative, and accountable’’; 

Whereas in December 2009, Iraq’s elected officials ended 

months of deadlock, passed a new election law, and 

scheduled parliamentary elections for March 7, 2010; 


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•SRES 437 ATS 

Whereas nearly 100,000 American soldiers, sailors, airmen 

and Marines continue to serve in Iraq, marking the 

United States’ largest current overseas deployment; 

Whereas Iraq’s future sovereignty, stability, and democracy is 

threatened by serious internal and external challenges, including— 

(1) continuing attempts by Al Qaeda in Iraq to perpetrate mass casualty terrorist attacks intended to paralyze the Iraqi state and reignite sectarian violence; 

(2) some surrounding countries’ malign and destabilizing interference in Iraq’s internal affairs and their 

incomplete diplomatic recognition of Iraq; 

(3) unresolved disputes over internal boundaries, including the City of Kirkuk; 

(4) incomplete reintegration of Sunni Arab communities in Iraq; and 

(5) ongoing incidents of civil and human rights 

abuses in a diverse, multiconfessional society; 

Whereas, while the United States appreciates the profound 

conviction of the Iraqi people to ensure that the Ba’ath 

party never returns to power in Iraq, the process by 

which scores of candidates have been disqualified from 

participating in the March 7, 2010 elections— 

(1) has not met international standards of electoral 

transparency and fairness; 

(2) was interpreted by many Iraqis as politically motivated; and 

(3) risks diminishing participation in elections; 

Whereas the United States has a clear, strong, and enduring 

national interest in helping the people of Iraq to establish 

a stable, representative, and democratic state; 


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•SRES 437 ATS 

Whereas the United States committed, in the Agreement Between the United States of America and the Republic of 

Iraq On the Withdrawal of United States Forces from 

Iraq and the Organization of Their Activities during 

Their Temporary Presence in Iraq (referred to in this 

resolution as the ‘‘Status of Forces Agreement’’) signed 

in November 2008, to redeploy— 

(1) all combat forces from Iraqi cities by June 30, 

2009; and 

(2) all United States forces from Iraq by December 

31, 2011; 

Whereas United States combat forces successfully redeployed 

from Iraq’s cities by June 30, 2009, in accordance with 

the Status of Forces Agreement, and are likely to carry 

out further reductions in the number of United States 

military forces in Iraq during the months after the March 

7, 2010 elections; 

Whereas the United States and Iraq agreed in the Strategic 

Framework Agreement, also signed in November 2008, to 

‘‘continue to foster close cooperation concerning defense 

and security arrangements’’; 

Whereas the March 7, 2010 elections and the subsequent 

government formation process will mark a period of exceptional importance for the future of Iraq; 

Whereas Iraq conducted provincial elections in January 2009 

that were free from widespread violence and the results 

of which were recognized as legitimate by the internationally community and the Iraqi people; 

Whereas several of Iraq’s main electoral blocs have committed to a Code of Conduct meant to ensure fair, transparent, and inclusive elections: 


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•SRES 437 ATS 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) reaffirms the United States’ strong commit3 ment to building a robust, long-term partnership 

4 with Iraq that strengthens Iraq’s security, stability, 

5 economy, and democracy; 

6 (2) recognizes the United States’ clear and en7 during interest in partnering with the people of Iraq 

8 in building a stable, representative, successful, demo9 cratic state; 

10 (3) urges the Administration— 

11 (A) to devote continued, high-level atten12 tion and resources to support the people and 

13 Government of Iraq toward these goals, in par14 ticular during the critical months after the 

15 March 7, 2010 elections; 

16 (B) to work with the international commu17 nity to provide all necessary support for Iraqi 

18 elections, including technical support for Iraq’s 

19 Independent High Electoral Commission and 

20 assistance for domestic and international moni21 toring; 

22 (4) calls upon all parties within Iraq— 


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•SRES 437 ATS 

1 (A) to ensure that the March 7, 2010 par2 liamentary elections are free, fair, inclusive, and 

3 without violence or intimidation; and 

4 (B) to refrain from rhetoric or actions that 

5 might undercut the legitimacy of such elections 

6 or inflame communal tensions; 

7 (5) urges the countries surrounding Iraq— 

8 (A) to refrain from exercising malign and 

9 destabilizing interference in Iraq’s internal af10 fairs; and 

11 (B) to allow the people of Iraq to deter12 mine their own future; 

13 (6) calls for the timely formation of an inclu14 sive, effective, and representative new Iraqi govern15 ment after the March 7, 2010 parliamentary elec16 tions; 

17 (7) reaffirms that, while United States military 

18 forces redeploy from Iraq in the months after the 

19 March 7, 2010 elections, the United States must re20 main engaged in partnering with the people of Iraq 

21 to help them in building a stable, representative, and 

22 successful democratic state; 

23 (8) expresses gratitude to the men and women 

24 of the United States Armed Forces, the Foreign 


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1 Service, and other Federal Government agencies, for 

2 their service, sacrifices, and heroism in Iraq; and 

3 (9) commends the people of Iraq for— 

4 (A) the courage they have shown; 

5 (B) the sacrifices they have endured; and 

6 (C) the hard-won gains they have made in 

7 fighting terrorism, finding peace, and building 

8 democracy. 

Æ 


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