US Senate Calls on Bush Administration to Internationalize Iraq Force (97-0)

VOA News ^ | 07-10-03

[Brian S]

The U.S. Senate has passed a non-binding resolution calling on the Bush administration to consider requesting troops from NATO allies and United Nations' member states to help stabilize and rebuild Iraq.

The measure passed on a 97-0 vote, reflecting lawmakers' concerns about whether there are enough coalition troops in Iraq to establish security, restore basic services and rebuild the country's infrastructure.

Senator Joe Biden

The key sponsor, Democratic Senator Joe Biden of Delaware, said internationalizing the coalition to a greater degree would make the United States, which makes up the bulk of the force, appear less like an occupier.

"We will get a lot more support from the Iraqis, who will be a lot less suspect of us, if we are not the only game in town," he said.

Mr. Biden said broadening the coalition force would reduce the U.S. financial costs of rebuilding Iraq and the risks to American troops, who have come under attack by supporters of ousted leader Saddam Hussein.

Mr. Biden said he believes the administration is reluctant to ask French and German troops to assist in Iraq because of their opposition to the war.

[Brian S]

More detail from AFP:

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US Senate unanimously approved a measure calling on the White House to consider requesting NATO (news - web sites) and UN troops in Iraq (news - web sites).


AFP/File Photo



In a 97-0 vote, the senators said President George W. Bush (news - web sites) "should consider requesting formally and expeditiously that NATO raise a force for deployment in post-war Iraq similar to what it has done in Afghanistan (news - web sites), Bosnia and Kosovo."


The amendment was authored by Senators Joe Biden of Delaware, Carl Levin of Michigan, Tom Daschle of South Dakota and Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts -- all Democrats -- and came during deliberations to fund US overseas operations for the coming fiscal year.


Shortly after the vote, senior Democrats in the US Senate held a press conference denouncing US policy in Iraq, calling on the US administration to end its quarrel with France and Germany and to ask for foreign reinforcements to back up US troops currently in Iraq.


The White House policy in Iraq is "just dead flat wrong," said Senator Joseph Biden, top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.


The measure also called for UN troops and expertise in the operation.


Biden said it was time US officials made up with Paris and Berlin -- prime opponents of the US led war in Iraq -- in order to demonstrate "a measure of maturity."


"It's childish," Biden said, at a press briefing.


"There's a need to internationalize this and to bring in NATO in particular," he said adding that he supports the addition of UN forces in Iraq as well.


Getting extra forces in Iraq is in Washington's best interest, Biden said.


"We need more forces ... and we have to make it clear that we're not a force of occupation," he said.


Internationalization is increasingly seen as a way of not only defraying the mounting cost of US military operations in Iraq, but stemming the daily attacks US soldiers there have encountered.


But the Bush administration has so far allowed very limited foreign involvement, while Democrats are pushing for a much more robust foreign presence in Iraq.


The Bush adminstration has said some 19 nations are currently represented in Iraq, with 19 additional nations sending forces by the fall.


Senate Democrats point out however, that foreign contingents make up just 10 percent of troops on the group.


At a press conference Thursday, Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) pointed out that, in the US administration's view, the Iraq forces were already well on the road to becoming internationalized.


"Poland, a NATO member, has one of the division zones in Iraq," Powell said.





"Other NATO members, such as Spain and other nations, will be working with the Poles. And so many of the constituent members of NATO are making their contribution now," he said.

"Whether there is a specific role for the alliance at some point in the future we're examining as an alliance."

Still, Levin, top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee said it was "a mystery" why the Bush administration had not made a formal request to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization for a sizeable troop deployment in Iraq.

Asking for NATO help is long overdue, Levin said.

"This is not weakness, it's wisdom," he said.

[Rodsomnia]

Did Bush ask for this? Or are these guys just a bunch of dolts.

Lets keep the internationalists out of our domain.

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[TheDon]

"The U.S. Senate has passed a non-binding resolution calling on the Bush administration to consider requesting troops from NATO allies and United Nations' member states to help stabilize and rebuild Iraq."

As watered down as this piece of fluff is, I still don't know why a single Republican Senator would vote for it. They have handed the Demorats a weapon to attack President Bush with. President Bush responds: "We thank the Senate for their wise council, and will consider what they have asked." </ bs>

[EdJay]

"The Bush adminstration has said some 19 nations are currently represented in Iraq, with 19 additional nations sending forces by the fall."

19 countries, huh? So why do I see only reports of our kids or the Brits, and an occasional mention of some Poles? Where ARE all these other people? Can anybody refer me to a list of these countries, with a run-down on what forces they've sent and are sending?

Are these units that can really relieve the pressure on our much put-upon guys and gals, or are they tokens sitting somewhere in air conditioned offices or doing peripheral duties (like the Italian "art police" that came over to help investigate the losses at the museums)?

[EdJay]

PS to earlier post. I hope other countries will help us, the more the merrier, if they are really there to help, but fer Pete's sake -- let's keep NATO and the UN out of it.

[org.whodat]

Nothing like a vote to say that these color's(the flag) will cut and run.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

The Senators simply have to go to the DoD website, or show up when the Generals come to Capitol Hill to answer their questions. They don't want just any international nations involved. According to Hillary, Dems. are pledging their loyalties to the EU, the UN and the socialist "Old Europe". 

 

06/30/2003 International forces prepare to take charge of southern Iraq [by Sept. - Polish led]  ^
06/30/2003:  Third International Division Possible in Iraq  
06/26/2003:  U.S., EU to Cooperate on Terror, Counterproliferation  
06/24/2003:  U.S., Pakistan Presidents Agree to Continue Fight Against Terrorism  
06/19/2003:  Wolfowitz Says U.S. Seeks Allied Relief for Forces in Iraq  

06/19/2003:  New NATO Transformation Command Established in Norfolk   

06/12/2003:  Spain Pledges Troops to Polish Division  
06/10/2003:  Rumsfeld Thanks Portugal for Help on War on Terror   
06/09/2003:  Rumsfeld to Consult With European, North Atlantic Allies  

 

ONE DAY IN IRAQ

 

CENTCOM - good stuff our troops are doing daily,  ignored by the press...and the Senate.

[lepton]

"We will get a lot more support from the Iraqis, who will be a lot less suspect of us, if we are not the only game in town," he said.

We're not Muslim, bozo Biden. More fingers in the pot just makes more of a mess.

[lepton]

The measure also called for UN troops and expertise in the operation.

That would be us.

[birg]

Those other nations did not want to help us in the war.

I wonder whether they will still be against sending troops.

[jocko12]

AND BUSH WANTS JUDGES.GOOD LUCK US SENATE!!!!

[B.Bumbleberry]

Did these idiots ever stop to think actions like that give encouragement to the enemy?

[VRWC_minion]

This resolution is going to get more troops killed because it will be seen as a weakness and embolden those doing the killing.