Mike Thompson United States Congressman - First District of California
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Thompson Introduces Plan to End the Iraq War

Legislation is Enforceable Plan to Bring Troops Home and Stop President’s Escalation of Iraq War

February 1, 2007

WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) introduced binding legislation that would restrict the president’s dangerous escalation of the Iraq War and set firm deadlines for a redeployment of American troops. Thompson’s bill is companion legislation to a bill introduced earlier this week in the Senate by Senator Barack Obama (D-IL).

“A realistic plan for ending this war is long overdue,” said Thompson. “This bill draws a hard line with the Iraqi government by giving them firm benchmarks for securing their country and making it clear that the U.S.’s involvement is coming to a close.”

The Iraq War De-escalation Act of 2007 (HR 787) sets forth a comprehensive plan for both ending the U.S.’s involvement in Iraq’s growing civil war and helping the Iraqi government rebuild and secure their country. It requires a phased redeployment of U.S. troops to begin no later than May 1, 2007, with all combat brigades out of Iraq by March 31, 2008, which is in accord with recommendations released late last year by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group. The plan also allows for a limited number of U.S. troops to remain in a protection, training and counter-terrorism role. In addition, if the Iraqi government meets certain political, diplomatic and reconstruction benchmarks outlined by the Administration, the plan allows for the temporary suspension (for no more than 90 days) of troops redeployments, however only with congressional approval.

“Our troops have done an amazing job, but success in Iraq will only be achieved by the Iraqis themselves,” said Thompson. “Sending more troops into the heart of Iraq’s civil war will only put more American lives at risk. This legislation provides a practical plan for ending the war as safely and quickly as possible.”

Thompson’s bill also blocks the president’s ill-advised plan to escalate the war by requiring congressional approval for additional troops beyond the number in Iraq on January 10, 2007. Escalation has been opposed by both Democrats and Republicans, including Senator John Warner, a World War II and Korean War veteran and former Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Senator Chuck Hagel, a Vietnam veteran. Thompson also introduced legislation in the 109th Congress calling for redeployment of troops out of Iraq. During this Congress, he also introduced legislation that would require oversight and accountability of all military and reconstruction spending in Iraq.

Summary of the Iraq War De-escalation Act of 2007 (HR 787)
Requires congressional approval for sending any additional troops to Iraq beyond the number in Iraq on January 10, 2007. Commences redeployment of US troops no later than May 1, 2007 with all combat brigades out by March 31, 2008. Allows for a limited number of US troops to remain as basic force protection, to engage in counter-terrorism, and to continue the training of Iraqi security forces. If the Iraqis are successful in meeting the 13 benchmarks for progress laid out by the Administration, the plan allows for the temporary suspension of this redeployment (for no more than 90 days), subject to the agreement of Congress. The President must provide Congress with a full explanation of why he is temporarily suspending redeployment. Requires the President to submit quarterly reports to Congress describing and assessing the Iraqi government’s progress in meeting benchmarks and the redeployment goals. Conditions future economic assistance to Iraq on significant progress toward achievement of benchmarks. Allows exceptions for humanitarian, security, and job-creation assistance. Requires Iraq to fulfill its commitment to spend not less than $10 billion for reconstruction, job creation, and economic development without regard for the ethnic or sectarian make-up of Iraqi regions. Recommends the President appoint a Special Envoy for Iraq to carry out this diplomacy within 60 days. Mandates that the President submit a plan to prevent the war in Iraq from becoming a wider regional conflict.