IV 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 272 
Urging the United States Government to initiate a diplomatic surge to foster 
security and stability in the Middle East by engaging international stake-
holders and governments throughout the region to curtail destabilizing 
influences, help prevent the spread of violence, address humanitarian 
concerns, and enhance prospects for security, political, and economic 
progress in Iraq. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 18, 2007 
Mr. FORTENBERRY (for himself and Mr. MCCAUL of Texas) submitted the fol-
lowing concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Urging the United States Government to initiate a diplomatic 
surge to foster security and stability in the Middle East 
by engaging international stakeholders and governments 
throughout the region to curtail destabilizing influences, 
help prevent the spread of violence, address humanitarian 
concerns, and enhance prospects for security, political, 
and economic progress in Iraq. 
Whereas United States troops have created significant mili-
tary momentum, achieved security gains, and the window 
of opportunity made possible by their valor, commitment, 
and steadfast competence must be matched immediately 
by equally vigorous diplomatic efforts; 
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•HCON 272 IH 
Whereas a peaceful, stable, self-governing Iraq with effective 
institutions of representative government is in the best 
interest of all nations and securing the best possible out-
come for the Iraqi people depends upon the active com-
mitment of responsible regional and international stake-
holders; 
Whereas the United States Government has played a pivotal 
role in facilitating 5 regional conferences of Middle East-
ern nations to encourage greater security, economic and 
political support for the sovereign nation of Iraq, and 
these conferences have yielded some successes, including 
the ‘‘International Compact for Iraq,’’ a 5-year national 
plan that includes benchmarks and mutual commitments 
from both Iraq and the international community, all with 
the aim of helping Iraq on the path towards peace, sound 
governance, and economic progress; 
Whereas the United Nations re-entered Iraq subsequent to 
the tragic bombing of the United Nations Headquarters 
in Baghdad on August 19, 2003; 
Whereas the following initiatives have been taken by regional 
governments to help promote stability in Iraq: 
(1) The Government of Egypt hosted a regional 
meeting in Sharm El-Sheikh on May 3 through 4, 2007, 
which led to the adoption of the International Compact 
for Iraq; 
(2) The Gulf States and the United States have re-
newed security discussions under the framework of the 
Gulf Cooperation Council plus Egypt and Jordan, and 
developed a new Gulf Security Initiative; 
(3) The Government of Jordan hosted and facili-
tated meetings between United States officials and Iraqi 
leaders aimed at resolving political disputes and created 
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•HCON 272 IH 
the 
Jordan 
International 
Police 
Training 
Center 
(JIPTC), which has prepared more than 30,000 Iraqi ca-
dets since 2003 with approximately $100,000,000 in 
United States funding; 
(4) Saudi officials have strengthened border control 
efforts and are seeking to implement a significant border 
security infrastructure improvement program; and 
(5) Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki and Turk-
ish Prime Minister Recept Tayyip Erdogan signed a 
memorandum of understanding on countering terrorism 
and the Government of Turkey recently hosted a multi-
lateral dialogue on Iraq in Istanbul; 
Whereas ongoing challenges remain to securing a stable Iraq, 
including the propensity of Iran to undermine broader re-
gional stability by providing both weapons and training 
to insurgents seeking to destabilize Iraq; 
Whereas international donors have pledged an estimated 
$18,700,000,000 to $20,700,000,000 in grants and loans 
for Iraq reconstruction but have only committed approxi-
mately 
$4,300,000,000 
and 
disbursed 
about 
$1,400,000,000 to the United Nations and World Bank 
trust funds for Iraq; 
Whereas there are over 2,000,000 Iraqi refugees throughout 
the region, including an estimated 100,000 in Egypt; 
200,000 in the Gulf States; 54,000 in Iran; 750,000 in 
Jordan; 40,000 in Lebanon; 1,200,000 in Syria; and 
10,000 in Turkey; and 
Whereas 40 nations, including 16 Arab nations, gathered to 
re-launch the Middle East peace process in Annapolis, 
Maryland, on November 27, 2007, which should create 
multiple opportunities to settle disputes throughout the 
region and provide additional momentum for more effec-
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•HCON 272 IH 
tive multilateral collaboration to help achieve a genuine 
and durable peace in Iraq: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress— 
(1) recognizes the effort of local community 
leaders in Iraq to promote reconciliation; 
(2) commends the United Nations for re-engag-
ing in Iraq, and urges further efforts to encourage 
all United Nations Member States to embrace the 
cause of a stable, secure, and free Iraq; 
(3) urges the President, Secretary of State 
Rice, and the United States Ambassador to Iraq 
heighten their considerable efforts to encourage the 
Iraqi Government to build on foundations of regional 
reconciliation to make substantial progress on na-
tional reconciliation; 
(4) urges the President and the Secretary of 
State to prioritize diplomatic efforts to— 
(A) engage Iraq’s neighbors to assist in se-
curing Iraq’s borders; and 
(B) engage regional stakeholders in an ef-
fort to prevent terrorist organizations or ele-
ments from de-stabilizing the region; 
(5) urges the President, the Secretary of State, 
and the United States Permanent Representative to 
the United Nations to work with their counterparts 
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from United Nations Member States, governments 
of the European Union, the Secretary General of the 
United Nations and the Presidency of the Council of 
the European Union to— 
(A) promote interest by the international 
community in the success of Iraq as an inde-
pendent sovereign nation and enhance the effec-
tiveness of the ‘‘International Compact for 
Iraq’’; 
(B) urge the nations and international 
bodies that since 2003 have pledged donations 
to Iraq to fulfill those pledges; and 
(C) encourage additional international in-
vestment and trade in Iraq’s economy; 
(6) declares that— 
(A) the burgeoning number of internally 
displaced persons within Iraq and exodus of ref-
ugees from Iraq into neighboring Middle East 
countries is a cause for increasing concern; and 
(B) the United States should engage the 
Government of Iraq, neighboring and regional 
governments, and the international community, 
as appropriate, including multilateral develop-
ment institutions, the United States High Com-
missioner for Refugees, and nongovernmental 
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•HCON 272 IH 
organization programs addressing the needs of 
Iraqi refugees to assess the adequacy of existing 
mechanisms and funding levels to assist the 
safe movement of Iraqi refugees in the Middle 
East region and capacity of regional govern-
ments to absorb current levels of refugee influx, 
and to provide recommendations to enhance 
such capacities to meet the urgent needs of 
Iraqi refugees; and 
(7) urges the Secretary of State to direct the 
Internally Displaced Persons Task Force similarly to 
undertake an immediate assessment of the adequacy 
of the United States Government’s contribution to 
addressing the urgent needs of Iraqi displaced per-
sons and to provide recommendations to enhance 
such capacities to meet those needs. 
Æ 
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