Senator Webb to Administration: Involve Congress in Any Security Agreements with Afghanistan

Senator Jim Webb today warned against committing the United States to long-term security agreements with Afghanistan without the full participation of the Congress.  During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Senator Webb raised concerns about ongoing negotiations between the Karzai government and the Obama Administration.

In 2008, as the Bush Administration negotiated a Status of Forces Agreement and a Strategic Framework Agreement with Iraq, Senator Webb introduced legislation to require Congressional approval of any agreement that contained a security commitment or defense arrangement with Iraq. The Iraqi Parliament was required to approve those agreements before they went into effect, but the U.S. Congress did not.

Under the “strategic partnership” declaration currently being negotiated with the Karzai government, Afghanistan would receive billions of dollars in long-term development and security assistance from the U.S., potentially including permanent military bases.  Karzai recently said he would likely call a “loya jirga” to evaluate a renewal of the partnership. However, the Obama Administration has not indicated it will seek similar consent from Congress.

“You and I had many conversations with respect to the Strategic Framework Agreement that the previous administration worked up with Iraq, where the Congress didn't have a chance to fully vet it,” Senator Webb said to Secretary Clinton. “I hope we will get a chance to examine this. We need to be talking about what our long-term relationship in Afghanistan should look like before this agreement goes into place.”