Iraq: Post-Saddam Governance and Security
Abstract
Operation Iraqi Freedom overthrew Saddam Hussein's regime, but much of Iraq remains unstable because of Sunni Arab resentment and a related insurgency, compounded by Sunni-Shiite violence that a January 2007 national intelligence estimate (NIE) says has key elements of a "civil war." President Bush announced a new strategy on January 10, 2007 consisting of deployment of at an additional 21,500 U.S. combat forces. He and other officials have asserted that the new security plan would build on important successes: two elections (January and December 2005) that chose an interim and then a full-term parliament and government; a referendum that adopted a permanent constitution (October 15, 2005); progress in building Iraq s security forces; and economic growth. The strategy is intended to provide security conditions conducive to Iraqi government action. Some in Congress believe that the United States should begin winding down U.S. combat involvement in Iraq. Both chambers adopted a conference report on a FY2007 supplemental appropriation to fund U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan (H.R. 1591) that would set a March 31, 2008, deadline for U.S. combat withdrawal. President Bush vetoed it. New versions (H.R. 2206) retaining requirements for progress on the benchmarks although the Administration opposes provisions that would penalize the Iraqi government. Other bills support the Iraq Study Group's recommendation for intensified regional diplomacy. This is a step the Administration has begun to take by participating in a March 10 meeting involving Iraq's neighbors, including Iran and Syria.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 10, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA468133
Entities
People
- Kenneth Katzman
Organizations
- Library of Congress