In light of recent reports that the Pentagon lacks detailed plans for post-surge Iraq, I have introduced legislation, H.R. 1183, The Iraq Contingency Planning Act, that would require the Pentagon to report to Congress on steps it has taken to plan for contingencies beyond the president's surge strategy. The White House failed to plan for the occupation and reconstruction of Iraq after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 and we cannot afford to repeat planning failures after the surge, especially if the security situation there continues to deteriorate. And even if the surge is successful, most experts agree that it will be temporary in nature.
No American wants chaos or increased violence in Iraq, but it would be irresponsible not to plan for these possibilities. We will only do right by our men and women in uniform if we plan for all contingencies, and my legislation is designed to ensure that we do so.
The National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) released last month indicates that as Iraq's security environment worsens, three scenarios could emerge: chaos leading to partition, the emergence of a Shia strongman, or anarchic fragmentation of power. H.R. 1183 would require that by June 30, 2007, the Department of Defense inform the House and Senate Armed Services Committees how it and other agencies would respond to each of these scenarios with an explanation of the role of U.S. troops under each scenario, including a comprehensive analysis identifying and justifying the number of U.S. troops needed in each case. This is a responsible way Congress can work with the Pentagon and support the withdrawal and disengagement strategy that I called for in 2004.