Brian4Liberty
05-10-2012, 10:43 AM
Of course Great Britain is a close ally of the United States, but is the following Bill really necessary? It seems like it may cost the United States taxpayer some money that we can ill afford to spend. Defining the religion of the UK seems a bit out of scope for a US law. And do we really want to pre-determine future UN votes? Rumor has it that it will have nearly unanimous support in the US Congress.
Text of proposed Bill:
SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States:
(1) To reaffirm the enduring commitment of the United States to the security of the United Kingdom as an Anglican Christian state. As President Obama stated on December 16, 2011, `America's commitment and my commitment to the United Kingdom and the United Kingdom's security is unshakeable.'. And as President Bush stated before the Parliament on the anniversary of the founding of the United Kingdom on May 1, 2008, `The alliance between our governments is unbreakable, yet the source of our friendship runs deeper than any treaty.'.
(2) To provide the United Kingdom the military capabilities necessary to deter and defend itself by itself against any threats.
(3) To veto any one-sided anti-United Kingdom resolutions at the United Nations Security Council.
(4) To support the United Kingdom's inherent right to self-defense.
(5) To pursue avenues to expand cooperation with the United Kingdom in both defense and across the spectrum of civilian sectors, including high technology, agriculture, medicine, health, pharmaceuticals, and energy.
(6) To assist the United Kingdom with its on-going efforts to forge a peaceful, negotiated settlement of the the United Kingdom-Ireland conflict that results in two states living side by side in peace and security, and to encourage the United Kingdom's neighbors to recognize the United Kingdom's right to exist as an Anglican Christian state.
SEC. 4. UNITED STATES ACTIONS TO ASSIST IN THE DEFENSE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND PROTECT AMERICAN INTERESTS.
(a) Sense of Congress- It is the sense of Congress that the United States should take the following actions to assist in the defense of the United Kingdom:
(1) Provide the United Kingdom such support as may be necessary to increase development and production of joint missile defense systems, particularly such systems that defend the urgent threat posed to the United Kingdom and United States forces in the region.
(2) Provide the United Kingdom defense articles and defense services through such mechanisms as appropriate, to include air refueling tankers, missile defense capabilities, and specialized munitions.
(3) Allocate additional weaponry and munitions for the forward-deployed United States stockpile in the United Kingdom.
(4) Provide the United Kingdom additional surplus defense articles and defense services, as appropriate, in the wake of the withdrawal of United States forces from Europe.
(5) Strengthen efforts to prevent weapons smuggling into Ireland pursuant to the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access following the the United Kingdom withdrawal from the Republic of Ireland and to protect against weapons smuggling and terrorist threats.
(6) Offer the the United Kingdom Air Force additional training and exercise opportunities in the United States to compensate for the United Kingdom's limited air space.
(7) Expand the United Kingdom's authority to make purchases under the Foreign Military Financing program on a commercial basis.
(8) Seek to enhance the capabilities of the United States and the United Kingdom to address emerging common threats, increase security cooperation, and expand joint military exercises.
(9) Encourage an expanded role for the United Kingdom within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), including an enhanced presence at NATO headquarters and exercises.
(10) Support extension of the long-standing loan guarantee program for the United Kingdom, recognizing the United Kingdom's unbroken record of repaying its loans on time and in full.
(11) Expand already-close intelligence cooperation, including satellite intelligence, with the United Kingdom.
(b) Report on the United Kingdom's Qualitative Military Edge-
(1) STATEMENT OF POLICY- It is the policy of the United States--
(A) to help the United Kingdom preserve its qualitative military edge amid rapid and uncertain regional political transformation; and
(B) to encourage further development of advanced technology programs between the United States and the United Kingdom current trends and instability in the region.
(2) REPORT- Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the status of the United Kingdom's qualitative military edge in light of current trends and instability in the region.
(c) Reports on Other Matters- Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on each of the following:
(1) Taking into account the United Kingdom's urgent requirement for F-35 aircraft, actions to improve the process relating to the United Kingdom's purchase of F-35 aircraft to improve cost efficiency and timely delivery.
(2) Efforts to expand cooperation between the United States and the United Kingdom in homeland security, counter-terrorism, maritime security, energy, cybersecurity, and other appropriate areas.
(3) Actions to integrate the United Kingdom into the defense of the Empire.
(d) Definitions- In this section:
(1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES- The term `appropriate congressional committees' means--
(A) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
(2) QUALITATIVE MILITARY EDGE- The term `qualitative military edge' has the meaning given the term in section 36(h)(2) of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2776(h)(2)).
Text of proposed Bill:
SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States:
(1) To reaffirm the enduring commitment of the United States to the security of the United Kingdom as an Anglican Christian state. As President Obama stated on December 16, 2011, `America's commitment and my commitment to the United Kingdom and the United Kingdom's security is unshakeable.'. And as President Bush stated before the Parliament on the anniversary of the founding of the United Kingdom on May 1, 2008, `The alliance between our governments is unbreakable, yet the source of our friendship runs deeper than any treaty.'.
(2) To provide the United Kingdom the military capabilities necessary to deter and defend itself by itself against any threats.
(3) To veto any one-sided anti-United Kingdom resolutions at the United Nations Security Council.
(4) To support the United Kingdom's inherent right to self-defense.
(5) To pursue avenues to expand cooperation with the United Kingdom in both defense and across the spectrum of civilian sectors, including high technology, agriculture, medicine, health, pharmaceuticals, and energy.
(6) To assist the United Kingdom with its on-going efforts to forge a peaceful, negotiated settlement of the the United Kingdom-Ireland conflict that results in two states living side by side in peace and security, and to encourage the United Kingdom's neighbors to recognize the United Kingdom's right to exist as an Anglican Christian state.
SEC. 4. UNITED STATES ACTIONS TO ASSIST IN THE DEFENSE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND PROTECT AMERICAN INTERESTS.
(a) Sense of Congress- It is the sense of Congress that the United States should take the following actions to assist in the defense of the United Kingdom:
(1) Provide the United Kingdom such support as may be necessary to increase development and production of joint missile defense systems, particularly such systems that defend the urgent threat posed to the United Kingdom and United States forces in the region.
(2) Provide the United Kingdom defense articles and defense services through such mechanisms as appropriate, to include air refueling tankers, missile defense capabilities, and specialized munitions.
(3) Allocate additional weaponry and munitions for the forward-deployed United States stockpile in the United Kingdom.
(4) Provide the United Kingdom additional surplus defense articles and defense services, as appropriate, in the wake of the withdrawal of United States forces from Europe.
(5) Strengthen efforts to prevent weapons smuggling into Ireland pursuant to the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access following the the United Kingdom withdrawal from the Republic of Ireland and to protect against weapons smuggling and terrorist threats.
(6) Offer the the United Kingdom Air Force additional training and exercise opportunities in the United States to compensate for the United Kingdom's limited air space.
(7) Expand the United Kingdom's authority to make purchases under the Foreign Military Financing program on a commercial basis.
(8) Seek to enhance the capabilities of the United States and the United Kingdom to address emerging common threats, increase security cooperation, and expand joint military exercises.
(9) Encourage an expanded role for the United Kingdom within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), including an enhanced presence at NATO headquarters and exercises.
(10) Support extension of the long-standing loan guarantee program for the United Kingdom, recognizing the United Kingdom's unbroken record of repaying its loans on time and in full.
(11) Expand already-close intelligence cooperation, including satellite intelligence, with the United Kingdom.
(b) Report on the United Kingdom's Qualitative Military Edge-
(1) STATEMENT OF POLICY- It is the policy of the United States--
(A) to help the United Kingdom preserve its qualitative military edge amid rapid and uncertain regional political transformation; and
(B) to encourage further development of advanced technology programs between the United States and the United Kingdom current trends and instability in the region.
(2) REPORT- Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the status of the United Kingdom's qualitative military edge in light of current trends and instability in the region.
(c) Reports on Other Matters- Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on each of the following:
(1) Taking into account the United Kingdom's urgent requirement for F-35 aircraft, actions to improve the process relating to the United Kingdom's purchase of F-35 aircraft to improve cost efficiency and timely delivery.
(2) Efforts to expand cooperation between the United States and the United Kingdom in homeland security, counter-terrorism, maritime security, energy, cybersecurity, and other appropriate areas.
(3) Actions to integrate the United Kingdom into the defense of the Empire.
(d) Definitions- In this section:
(1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES- The term `appropriate congressional committees' means--
(A) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
(2) QUALITATIVE MILITARY EDGE- The term `qualitative military edge' has the meaning given the term in section 36(h)(2) of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2776(h)(2)).