The week of November 24, the Iraqi Parliament is expected to vote on whether to approve an agreement setting the terms of the ongoing military relationship between the United States and Iraq.  So far, so good.  A legislative body, representing the people of a nation, shall determine the extent to which that nation’s future will be intertwined with that of another.

Of course, one would expect that the United States Congress would be given the same opportunity.  That, however, is not the case.  Or at least it is not what the Bush administration is allowing to happen.  Shockingly, the Bush administration is not even letting Congress read the full agreement before it is signed! 

Believe it or not, the current agreement even contains terms that will give Iraq a measure of control over U.S. forces.  No foreign nation or international entity has ever been given the authority to direct U.S. forces without prior congressional approval – either through a majority vote of both chambers or a two-thirds vote in the Senate in the case of treaties.

If this agreement goes into effect without congressional approval, it will establish a precedent under which future presidents can exercise broad unilateral control over the U.S. military – and even give foreign nations control of our troops.

That is why we need you to send an E-mail to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, urging them to make a statement signaling their opposition to funding an agreement that has not been approved by Congress.  To do so, please fill in your information below and click on “Send My Message!”