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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 437 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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;
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;
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:
Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) reaffirms the United States' strong commitment to 
        building a robust, long-term partnership with Iraq that 
        strengthens Iraq's security, stability, economy, and democracy;
            (2) recognizes the United States' clear and enduring 
        interest in partnering with the people of Iraq in building a 
        stable, representative, successful, democratic state;
            (3) urges the Administration--
                    (A) to devote continued, high-level attention and 
                resources to support the people and Government of Iraq 
                toward these goals, in particular during the critical 
                months after the March 7, 2010 elections;
                    (B) to work with the international community to 
                provide all necessary support for Iraqi elections, 
                including technical support for Iraq's Independent High 
                Electoral Commission and assistance for domestic and 
                international monitoring;
            (4) calls upon all parties within Iraq--
                    (A) to ensure that the March 7, 2010 parliamentary 
                elections are free, fair, inclusive, and without 
                violence or intimidation; and
                    (B) to refrain from rhetoric or actions that might 
                undercut the legitimacy of such elections or inflame 
                communal tensions;
            (5) urges the countries surrounding Iraq--
                    (A) to refrain from exercising malign and 
                destabilizing interference in Iraq's internal affairs; 
                and
                    (B) to allow the people of Iraq to determine their 
                own future;
            (6) calls for the timely formation of an inclusive, 
        effective, and representative new Iraqi government after the 
        March 7, 2010 parliamentary elections;
            (7) reaffirms that, while United States military forces 
        redeploy from Iraq in the months after the March 7, 2010 
        elections, the United States must remain engaged in partnering 
        with the people of Iraq to help them in building a stable, 
        representative, and successful democratic state;
            (8) expresses gratitude to the men and women of the United 
        States Armed Forces, the Foreign Service, and other Federal 
        Government agencies, for their service, sacrifices, and heroism 
        in Iraq; and
            (9) commends the people of Iraq for--
                    (A) the courage they have shown;
                    (B) the sacrifices they have endured; and
                    (C) the hard-won gains they have made in fighting 
                terrorism, finding peace, and building democracy.
                                 <all>
```