Barbara Boxer: “I am very pleased with that. I am very pleased he is here. I am also very pleased there appears to be good support for…”

“I am very pleased with that. I am very pleased he is here. I am also very pleased there appears to be good support for this amendment. We are going to have a record vote because we both believe it is very important to send a loud and clear message about the subject of this amendment. This amendment ensures that no funds in this bill will be used to enter into an agreement with the Government of Iraq that would subject U.S. military forces in any way to the jurisdiction of Iraqi criminal courts or punishment under Iraqi law. I think it is very important that we all understand that U.S. military forces are governed by law. They must comply with the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and they must comply with the Geneva Conventions. But, currently, U.S. military forces are immune from Iraq's legal system, and Senator Graham and I want to make sure that this will continue to be the case. This policy was set by the Coalition Provisional Authority, Order No. 17, and it is supported by U.N. Security Council Resolution 1546. But here is the reason we think it is important for us to speak out, hopefully, with a uniform voice today. Last month, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said this policy should change. He is the Prime Minister of Iraq. He said: We believe that the immunity given to international forces is what emboldens them to commit such crimes in cold blood. This requires that such immunity should be reconsidered.…”