Brownback Amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill

On September 30, Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) introduced an amendment on Iran (No. 5360) to the Fiscal Year 2009 National Defense Authorization Act. The amendment would require the Secretary of Defense to submit an annual report, in both classified and unclassified forms, on Iran's current and future military strategy. Below is the full text of the amendment.

SA 5360. Mr. BROWNBACK submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 3001, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2009 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of subtitle D of title XII, add the following:

SEC. 1233. ANNUAL REPORT ON MILITARY POWER OF IRAN.

(a) Annual Report Required.--

(1) IN GENERAL.--Not later than March 1 each year, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the current and future military and security strategy of Iran.

(2) GENERAL SCOPE OF REPORTS.--Each report shall address the current and probable future course of military-technological development of the Iran military and the tenets and probable development of the grand strategy, security strategy, and military strategy, and of military organizations and operational concepts, of Iran during the 20-year period beginning on the date of such report.

(3) FORM.--Each report shall be submitted in both unclassified and classified form.

(b) Elements.--Each report under this section shall include analyses and forecasts with respect to the following:

(1) The goals of the grand strategy, security strategy, and military strategy of Iran during the 20-year period beginning on the date of such report, and the relationship between such strategies and the current security situation in the Middle East and Central and South Asia.

(2) The size, location, and capabilities of the land, sea, air, and irregular forces of Iran, including the Artesh, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Qods Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, Lebanese Hezbollah, and any other force controlled by the Iran or receiving funds or training from the Iran.

(3) Developments in and the capabilities of the ballistic missile, nuclear, and chemical and biological weapons programs of Iran.

(4) The degree to which Iran depends on unconventional, irregular, or asymmetric capabilities to achieve its strategic goals.

(5) The irregular warfare capabilities of Iran, including the exploitation of asymmetric strategies and related weapons and technology, the use of covert forces, the use of proxy forces, support for terrorist organizations, and strategic communications efforts.

(6) Efforts by Iran to develop, acquire, or gain access to information, communication, nuclear, and other advanced technologies that would enhance its military capabilities.

(7) The nature and significance of any arms, munitions, military equipment, or military or dual-use technology acquired by Iran from outside Iran, including from a foreign government or terrorist organization, or provided by Iran to any foreign government or terrorist organization.

(8) The nature and significance of any bilateral or multilateral security or defense-related cooperation agreements, whether formal or informal, between Iran and any foreign government or terrorist organization.

(9) Expenditures by Iran on each of the following:

(A) The security forces of Iran, whether regular and irregular, including the Artesh, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, and the Qods Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

(B) The programs of Iran relating to weapons of mass destruction.

(C) Support provided to terrorist groups, insurgent groups, irregular proxy forces, and related activities.

(D) Bilateral military aid.

(c) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this section, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--

(1) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and

(2) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on International Relations of the House of Representatives.