Senators Warner and Levin Write Secretary of State Rice on Iraq
Senators Warner and Levin Write Secretary of State Rice on Iraq
This week, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner, R-Va., and Ranking Member Carl Levin, D-Mich., wrote the attached letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, urging her to seek a formal invitation from the newly elected Iraqi government to the international community, including the United States, to maintain a military presence in Iraq.
Honorable Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street,NW
Washington, DC 20520
Dear Madam Secretary:
Weare writing to solicit your support for an initiative that we believe could substantially reduce the daily threats to U.S., coalition, and Iraqi security forces in Iraq. For some time now, we have been concerned that a number of Iraqis continue to perceive the U.S.-led, multi-national coalition force as "occupiers" and that this perception contributes to inciting instances of insurgency. We are of the view that one step the new Iraqi government should take to strike a blow against the insurgents would be to formally invite the international community, including the United States, to maintain forces in Iraq during this period when Iraqi security forces are being trained and equipped to take full responsibility for the defense oftheir nation.During his visit to Iraq on April 2nd,Ranking Member Carl Levin presented the attached letter to key political officials from each of the three principal Iraqi communities. Senator Levin told leaders that Chairman John Warner supported the central thrust of the letter, and had issued the attached press release to that effect on March 31st.
Senator Levin met first with Deputy Interim Prime Minister Barham Salih, who was also representing the then-prospective President in the new transitional government, Jalal Talibani. Mr. Salih said that the Kurds would be supportive of such an invitation. Senator Levin then met with Ibrahim Jaafari, who was also the prospective Prime Minister for the new transitional Iraqi government. Mr. Jaafari also said that as Prime Minister he would support the requested invitation.
Finally, Senator Levin met with two Sunni politicians - the Minister of Industry, Dr. Hajim al-Hassani, who is now the Speaker of the Transitional National Assembly, and Dr. Saleh Mutlak, who is a participant in the negotiations with the Shias and the Kurds on the formation of a new government. They did not commit themselves to the issuance of an invitation.
Changing the perception of some Iraqis ofthe coalition from one of occupier to one o£i partner with the Iraqi security forces could facilitate a greater willingness of the Iraqi people t6 provide information about the insurgents in their midst and could result in a substantial decrease in the death and injuries among Iraqis, and U.S. and coalition forces.
Such an invitation to the international community could also lead more countries, including Muslim countries, to provide troops, training, equipment, and other resources to Iraq. Accordingly, we ask for your support for a U.S. diplomatic initiative to the new transitional Iraqi government to seek its formal invitation to the international community, including the United States, to maintain a military presence in Iraq during this transitional period, a presence clearly authorized by U.N. Security Council Resolution 1546.
Carl Levin
Ranking Member
John Wamer
Chairman
April 2, 2005
Dear Key Iraqi Political Official:
As the Transitional National Assembly and the new Iraqi Government prepare to deal with the several issues facing Iraq, I would like to recommend one matter for expedited attention.
The insurgency in Iraq is presently bei~¥:fueled by the perception among some Iraqis of the U.S.-led Coalition forces as occupiers. I believe that the new Iraqi Government could strike a blow against the insurgents by helping to change that perception of us by some Iraqis and others in the world from that of occupier to that of partner. To achieve that goal it is essential that the new Iraqi Government formally invite the international community, including the United States, to maintain forces in Iraq during this interim period while Iraqi security forces are being trained.
Changing the Iraqi public's perception of us from one of occupier to one of partner with the Iraqi security forces, could facilitate a greater willingness of the Iraqi people to provide information about the insurgents in their midst and could result in a substantial decrease in the death and injuries among Iraqis and U.S. and Coalitionforces. '
Such an invitation to the international commUnity could also lead more countries, including Muslim countries, to provide troops, training, equipment and other resources to Iraq.
I appreciate your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Carl Levin
RankingMember
http://levin.senate.gov/newsroom/supporting/2005/riceletter.0422.pdf