REP. ANDREWS’ AMENDMENT REQUIRES ACCOUNTABILITY FOR PROGRESS IN IRAQ

On April 26, 2006 the House of Representative adopted my amendment to the Intelligence Authorization Bill (H.R. 5020) which will require the Director of National Intelligence to provide Congress with quarterly reports on the status of insurgent forces in Iraq.  It is critical for our national security, and the security of the Middle East, that coalition forces succeed in stabilizing Iraq.  Unfortunately, this Administration has not set clear benchmarks for what defines success in Iraq and Congress has not fulfilled its Constitutional duty to oversee the Administration’s management of the war.

My amendment requires quarterly classified intelligence reports on the number of insurgent forces in Iraq, whether they are linked to the Ba’ath Party, al Qaeda, or other terrorist organizations, and details of their location, capabilities, and funding sources.  Such regular, quantifiable information will give Congress the tools we need to evaluate whether this Administration is effectively getting the job done.  We must not loose sight of our ultimate goal – to establish a stable regime in Iraq.  I will carefully monitor this intelligence to ensure we are on track towards this end. 

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