Barbara Lee Cautions Sec of State Rice Against Bush Admin Plans for Permanent Military Bases in Iraq
Press Release
For Immediate Release: March 12, 2008
Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661
(Washington, DC) – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9), who sits on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State Foreign Operations Subcommittee, today probed Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice about reports of secret Bush administration negotiations to establish a permanent military presence in Iraq without congressional approval. She released the following statement:
“The Declaration of Principles announced by President Bush and Prime Minister Maliki is inconsistent with U.S. policy against permanent military bases in Iraq and this administration must be held accountable and immediately provide an explanation.
“Last week Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte ducked the issue and today Secretary Rice leaves Congress with more unanswered questions regarding the extent of their negotiations to proceed with agreements that expressly violate the law and constitutional process.
“The unconstitutional Declaration of Principles go far beyond a typically status of forces agreement and calls for security assurances that would require the presence of our nation’s armed forces, which would surely require permanent or long-term military bases. If this is not a violation, I don’t know what is.
“This administration must provide Congress and the American people answers.”
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) sits on the House Appropriations Committee, where she serves on the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Subcommittee, the State Foreign Operations Subcommittee and is Vice-Chair of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee.
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