Change the Course in Iraq

With more than 2,600 U.S. troops killed, 20,000 wounded, over $300 billion expended, and still no plan in sight, Democrats know we can not afford to continue with President Bush's failed policy in Iraq. The Real Security Act provides a blueprint for changing course in Iraq by implementing the Reed-Levin resolution, and giving our troops and the Iraqi people a chance for success by transforming the U.S. mission and beginning the phased redeployment of U.S. forces. It also finally provides the oversight that Republicans have failed to deliver to track the billions of dollars that have been wasted in Iraq on no-bid contracts, fraud and abuse.

Providing a Blueprint for Success. The Real Security Act continues the progress made in last year's "United States Policy in Iraq Act," which passed the Senate by a vote of 79-19 as part of the Fiscal Year 2006 Defense Authorization Act. In that Act, Congress called for 2006 to be a year of "significant transition to full Iraqi sovereignty", with Iraqi security forces taking the lead for the security of a free and sovereign Iraq, thereby creating the conditions for the phased redeployment of United States forces from Iraq." Specifically, the Real Security Act calls for:

• Transitioning the Mission and Beginning the Phased Redeployment. The Real Security Act begins the transition of U.S. forces to a more limited mission of training and logistics support of Iraqi security forces, protection of U.S. personnel and facilities, and targeted counterterrorism activities. This legislation does not establish a timeline for withdrawal. Rather, it urges that a phased redeployment of U.S. forces begin before the end of the year. By the end of 2006, the administration should submit to Congress its plan for continued redeployment beyond 2006.
• Engaging in More Robust Diplomacy to Help Resolve Sectarian Differences. In addition, the Real Security Act highlights steps the Iraqis need to take to put their country on the path to success including: achieving a broad-based and sustainable political settlement; fairly sharing political power and economic resources to invest all Iraqi groups in the formation of their nation; disarming the militias and purging Iraqi security forces of members not loyal to the national government.
• Internationalizing the Effort. The involvement of the international community is essential in paving Iraq's path to stability. In addition, the Bush Administration has yet to convince the international community to fully deliver on its $13.5 billion pledge towards Iraq reconstruction. The Real Security Act calls for an international conference to assist Iraq in overcoming problems such as the potential threat of interference by neighboring countries and payment of pledges in order to get Iraq's reconstruction back on track.

Hold the Bush Administration Accountable For Contractor Waste, Fraud and Abuse in Iraq. During World War II, the Truman Commission investigated waste, fraud and abuse in military contracts. Its efforts saved the American taxpayers an estimated $15 billion. Now, while American taxpayers continue to foot the bill for the war in Iraq, contracting companies continue to profit. Since 2003, there have been many examples of the misuse of American taxpayer dollars in Iraqi contracting. A key example of Iraqi contract abuses is Halliburton - with Pentagon auditors questioning $1.4 billion of the billings that Halliburton submitted for its Iraqi work. Unfortunately, Republicans have rejected every effort by Democrats to investigate these abuses. The Real Security Act establishes a modern-day Truman Commission to investigate waste, fraud and abuse in U.S. contracts in Iraq.

Change Course/Change the Secretary of Defense. Finally, the Real Security Act includes the Sense of the Senate that in order to succeed in Iraq, the President must change course. A good indication of that change and a step in the right direction to give our troops and the Iraqi people the best chance for success is for the President to replace the current Secretary of Defense.

» The Real Security Act of 2005
» Implement the 9/11 Commission Recommendations
» Refocus on the War on Terror
» Protect Our Transportation Systems
» Equip Our Intelligence Community to Fight Against Terrorists
» Change the Course in Iraq
» Provide Better Tools to Bring Terrorists to Justice