Durbin Calls on President to Enforce Deadlines Iraqis Set for Themselves

DURBIN CALLS ON PRESIDENT TO ENFORCE DEADLINES IRAQIS SET FOR THEMSELVES

After meeting with President Bush at the White House today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said that if the President doesn't want to implement timelines created by the U.S. Congress, he should enforce deadlines for political reforms that the Iraqi government has set for itself.

"If the President doesn't want to enforce the timelines the U.S. Congress has proposed for reduction of the number of American troops in Iraq, he should at least be willing to enforce timelines the Iraqi government has set for itself," said Durbin.

Senator Durbin today called on the President to join Congress in enforcing political reforms along the timelines the Iraqi government has set for itself:

# Approve a provincial election law by early 2007

# Approve a law to regulate the oil industry and share revenues by early 2007

# Approve the de-Baathification law to reintegrate officials of the former regime and Arab nationalists into public life by early 2007

# Approve a law to rein in sectarian militias by early 2007

# Approve laws controlling militias by May 2007

# Approve the amnesty agreement by May 2007

# Complete all reconciliation efforts by May 2007

# Hold provincial elections by June 2007

# Increase the number of battle-ready Army units

# Take over total control of the Iraq Army by April 2007

# Be given full civil control of all provinces by September 2007

# Achieve total security self-reliance by December 2007

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