IV 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 321 
Expressing the need for a more comprehensive diplomatic initiative led by 
the United States, Iraq, and the international community. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 2, 2008 
Mr. GILCHREST (for himself, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. JONES of North Carolina, 
Mr. MEEKS of New York, Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois, Mr. MURTHA, Mr. 
REYES, Mr. SHAYS, Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsylvania, Ms. KAPTUR, and Ms. 
BALDWIN) 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, Iraq, and the inter-
national community. 
Whereas it is in the foreign policy and national security inter-
ests 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 international 
support structure involving Iraq’s neighboring countries, 
other pertinent and influential countries in and outside 
the region, international organizations, and nongovern-
mental organizations; 
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•HCON 321 IH 
Whereas the removal of Saddam Hussein has resulted in a 
fundamental change in the composition and structure of 
Iraq’s Government, and of provincial and tribal leader-
ship; 
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 neighboring 
countries, thereby affecting the balance of power in the 
region; 
Whereas the removal of Saddam Hussein has resulted in the 
democratic election of the Government of Iraq where 
nearly 7,000,000 Iraqis participated in the voting proc-
ess; 
Whereas elements and actions from outside Iraq’s borders, 
including neighboring countries, 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, are facing difficulties to achieve polit-
ical reconciliation and to independently govern; 
Whereas the Iraq Study Group stated that ‘‘a regional peace 
conference 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 that ‘‘any student of history recognizes there 
is no military solution to a problem like that in Iraq, to 
the insurgency in Iraq’’; and 
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•HCON 321 IH 
Whereas finding a responsible and strategic way forward in 
Iraq will require international support: Now, therefore, be 
it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress— 
(1) declares that a more comprehensive inter-
national support structure must be established to 
engage Iraq’s political, religious, ethnic, and tribal 
leaders in an ongoing inclusive political reconcili-
ation and reconstruction process; 
(2) 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, in consultation with the Govern-
ment of Iraq, and must be supported by a com-
prehensive international and regional diplomatic ini-
tiative; 
(3) encourages the President and the adminis-
tration, jointly with Iraq, to initiate, develop, and 
implement a sustained comprehensive regional and 
multilateral diplomatic plan of action, in conjunction 
with the United Nations Security Council, the 
United Nations Secretary General, Iraq’s neigh-
boring countries, regional organizations as the Arab 
League, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, 
and appropriate nongovernmental organizations, re-
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•HCON 321 IH 
lating to issues and actions that impact the situation 
in Iraq, including— 
(A) promoting a national process of rec-
onciliation within Iraq; 
(B) curtailing the ongoing civil strife in 
Iraq that has created insurgency groups 
amongst civilian militias and related civil orga-
nizations; 
(C) preventing the spread of violence from 
Iraq into neighboring countries and fostering a 
collective security arrangement between Iraq 
with neighboring countries to secure Iraq’s sov-
ereign integrity and border security; 
(D) preventing genocide, ethnic cleansing, 
and other crimes against humanity; 
(E) preventing the establishment of safe 
havens for al Qaeda and other terrorist organi-
zations; 
(F) continuing to provide assistance to the 
Iraqi Security Forces, including military train-
ing, education, equipment and technical sup-
port, and to encourage the United Nations and 
regional allies to support this coordinated effort 
if the Iraqi Government supports this strategic 
arrangement; and 
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