Legislative Update...

Lugar on Iraq: We need a strategy that anticipates a political end game and employs every plausible means to achieve it

In April the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held five hearings on Iraq to examine military and political prospects as well as the legal framework for U.S. presence.  On Tuesday, April 8, General Petraeus, Commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, and Ambassador Crocker who serves as the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq testified before the committee. 

“I join in welcoming General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker back to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. We commend their skillful service in Iraq and the achievements that U.S. military and diplomatic personnel have been able to bring forward under their leadership. We are grateful for the decline in fatalities among Iraqi civilians and U.S. personnel and the expansion of security in many regions and neighborhoods throughout Iraq,” said Senator Lugar.

“Today the questions are whether and how improvements in security can be converted into political gains that can stabilize Iraq despite the impending drawdown of U.S. troops. Simply appealing for more time to make progress is insufficient. The debate over how much progress we have made and whether we can make more is less illuminating than determining whether the Administration has a definable political strategy that recognizes the time limitations we face and seeks a realistic outcome designed to protect American vital interests.”

In his opening statement, Senator Lugar cited the following premises to guide discussions for moving forward in Iraq. 

1). The surge has succeeded in improving the conditions on the ground in many areas of Iraq, creating “breathing space” for exploring political accommodation.

2). Security improvements derived purely from American military operations have reached or almost reached a plateau.

3). Despite the improvements in security, the central government has not demonstrated that it can construct a “top-down” political accommodation for Iraq.

4). Though portions of the Iraqi population are tired of the violence and would embrace some type of permanent cease fire or political accommodation, sectarian and tribal groups remain heavily armed and are focused on expanding or solidifying their positions.

5). Operations in Iraq have severely strained the U.S. military, and these strains will impose limits on the size and length of future deployments to Iraq, irrespective of political decisions or the outcome of the election in our country.

Lugar Urges Action on HIV/AIDS Bill

In April, Senator Lugar urged action by the U.S. Senate following passage of the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde Global Leadership Act Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 by the U.S. House of Representatives. The Senate companion bill, S. 2731, was introduced by Sens. Joe Biden (D-DE), Dick Lugar (R-IN), Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and John Sununu (R-NH). It expanded upon the 5-year-old PEPFAR effort to stem the tide of these diseases worldwide. 

“I commend the House for passing this crucial piece of legislation that will result in the savings of millions of lives throughout the world. Chairman Berman and Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen deserve credit for maintaining the delicate bi-partisan compromises worked out in the House Foreign Affairs Committee,” said Senator Lugar, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

For more information, read Senator Lugar’s press release

Lugar on U.S. - Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement

In April, Senator Lugar responded to President Bush sending the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement to Congress.

“I support the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement. This trade agreement would benefit both Americans and Colombians.  Its passage would provide new markets for U.S. exporters and additional jobs for U.S. companies, as well as jobs and income for hundreds of thousands of Colombians. Equally important, it will send a strong signal to the region that the United States stands by its friends.

“However, I am concerned by the politically inhospitable circumstances in which the agreement is being sent to the U.S. Congress. The Colombian free-trade agreement faces stiff opposition because many in Congress believe the Colombian government has not taken sufficient measures to ensure the safety and security of its workers. This opposition could derail its passage this year, setting a negative precedent for the Colombia FTA, as well as for the Panamanian and South Korean free trade agreements.”

For more information, read Senator Lugar’s full statement