IV 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 274 
Expressing the need for a more comprehensive diplomatic initiative led by 
the United States, Republic of Iraq, and international community. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 19, 2007 
Mr. GILCHREST (for himself, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. JONES of North Carolina, 
Mr. MEEKS of New York, Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois, Mr. MURTHA, and 
Mr. REYES) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Com-
mittee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall with-
in the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Expressing the need for a more comprehensive diplomatic 
initiative led by the United States, Republic of Iraq, 
and international community. 
Whereas it is in the foreign policy and National security in-
terests 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 inter-
national support structure including Iraq’s neighboring 
states, other pertinent and influential countries in and 
outside the region, international organizations, and non-
governmental organizations; 
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•HCON 274 IH 
Whereas the removal of Saddam Hussein has resulted in a 
fundamental change in the composition and structure of 
Iraq’s government, provincial, and tribal leadership; 
Whereas the removal of Saddam Hussein has resulted in vio-
lent 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 its neighboring 
states thereby affecting the balance of power in the re-
gion; 
Whereas elements and actions from outside Iraq’s borders, 
including neighboring states, 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, have found it difficult to achieve polit-
ical reconciliation and independently govern; 
Whereas the Iraq Study Group stated, ‘‘a regional peace con-
ference 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 ‘‘any student of history recognizes there is no 
military solution to a problem like that in Iraq, to the in-
surgency in Iraq’’; 
Whereas finding a responsible and strategic way forward in 
Iraq will require international support; and 
Whereas a more comprehensive international support struc-
ture must be established to engage Iraq’s political, reli-
gious, ethnic, and tribal leaders in an ongoing inclusive 
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•HCON 274 IH 
political reconciliation and reconstruction process: Now, 
therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That the United States House of Representa-
tives— 
(1) declares that the current drawdown and 
eventual departure of the United States Armed 
Forces in Iraq be performed in a strategic and re-
sponsible manner, and must be supported by a com-
prehensive international and regional diplomatic ini-
tiative; 
(2) encourages the President and the adminis-
tration in consultation with the Republic of Iraq to 
initiate, develop, and implement a sustained com-
prehensive regional and multilateral diplomatic plan 
of action, in conjunction with the United Nations 
Security Council, United Nations Secretary General, 
Iraq’s neighboring countries, regional organizations 
as the Arab League, the Organization of the Islamic 
Conference, and appropriate non-governmental orga-
nizations relating to issues and actions that impact 
the situation in Iraq as to— 
(A) curtailing the ongoing civil strife in 
Iraq that has created various insurgency 
groups; 
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•HCON 274 IH 
(B) preventing the spread of violence from 
the Iraq into neighboring countries; 
(C) preventing genocide, ethnic cleansing, 
and other crimes against humanity; 
(D) preventing the establishment of safe 
havens for Al Qaeda and other terrorist organi-
zations; 
(E) promoting a National process of rec-
onciliation within Iraq; and 
(F) supporting the formation of an inter-
national consortium for relief and reconstruc-
tion in Iraq; 
(3) urges the President and the administration 
in coordination with the Republic of Iraq, United 
Nations, and regional organizations to expeditiously 
engage in perpetual bilateral and multilateral talks 
and conferences with Iraq’s neighboring countries, 
and specifically— 
(A) recommends the implementation of the 
International Compact for Iraq and Rec-
ommendations 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 [Iraq Inter-
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•HCON 274 IH 
national] 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 dis-
incentives, in seeking constructive results’’; 
and 
(ii) 
implementing 
Recommendation 
13, which states, ‘‘There must be a re-
newed and sustained commitment by the 
United States to a comprehensive Arab- 
Israeli peace on all fronts’’; 
(4) remains resolved that the interests of the 
people of Iraq, United States allies, and greater 
Middle East region should be paramount in estab-
lishing regional and international assistance and aid 
to ensure the establishment of a cohesive govern-
ment in Iraq; 
(5) encourages the international community and 
regional organizations to assist the Republic of Iraq 
in recruiting an armed multinational stabilization 
force and to the extent feasible police and human 
rights monitors from countries acceptable to the Re-
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•HCON 274 IH 
public of Iraq as to foster political reconciliation in 
Iraq; 
(6) recognizes that as part of a diplomatic ini-
tiative in Iraq, the President shall submit to the 
Congress, in classified and unclassified form, a com-
prehensive regional stability plan for Iraq, which 
shall include diplomatic, political, and economic stra-
tegic measures; 
(7) urges sustained commitment of the Republic 
of Iraq, United States, nations in the Middle East 
and 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 relief to 
the Iraqi people, including for purposes of— 
(A) assisting efforts to deal with the hu-
manitarian impact of the war in Iraq, particu-
larly civilian displacement and Iraqi refugees; 
(B) developing an Iraq Corps of Engineers; 
(C) encouraging the use of Iraqi engineers, 
contractors, tradesmen, and construction work-
ers in the reconstruction process; 
(D) surveying and performing proper res-
toration of Iraq’s world cultural sites; 
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•HCON 274 IH 
(E) ensuring the equitable distribution of 
oil revenues to the people of Iraq; and 
(F) encouraging initiatives to assist in re-
building Iraq’s infrastructure, including public 
health, transportation, physical plants, edu-
cational, and utilities systems; 
(8) expresses its sincere condolences to the 
number of Iraqis who have been killed, displaced, or 
wounded; and 
(9) recognizes that the government of the 
United States owes a debt of gratitude to the 
500,000 young men and women who have served in 
Iraq and who now deserve comprehensive rehabilita-
tion, physical, mental, educational, and economic as-
sistance. 
Æ 
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