The Skinny: Leaks Galore On Iraq

The Iraq Study Group Just Can't Seem To Shut Up

(CBS)  The Skinny is Hillary Profita's take on the top news of the day and the best of the Internet.

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Following the New York Times leakage yesterday of the expected (lest we forget non-binding) report from James Baker-Lee Hamilton & Friends (a.k.a the Iraq Study Group) the Washington Post today has its own rundown of the panel's anticipated suggestions.

The paper highlights the group's planned recommendation to cut troops — potentially by half — by 2008. In case you live under a rock somewhere, that happens to also be the same year we'll be electing a new president. "The choice of early 2008 as a goal could also, intentionally or not, change the nature of the debate over the war at the height of the U.S. presidential primary season." Really?

Both papers and the Wall Street Journal's newsbox have an overview of yesterday's meeting between President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, following Wednesday's snub or no snub kerfuffle.

Graceful Exit From Iraq? Nah.

With that and the leaked recommendations from the Iraq Study Group in the air, Bush told reporters that Maliki is "the right guy for Iraq" and "This business about graceful exit just simply has no realism to it whatsoever." According to the Washington Post, White House aides later modified that statement, cautioning "against interpreting that as opposition to any change in the U.S. troop posture."

Instead, according to an aide: "Some options being discussed by the Iraqi Study Group and his own administration's internal policy review, the official said, are "things that he's very open to.' " Writes the New York Times: "The idea of a major and rapid withdrawal seems to be fading as a viable option." The paper emphasizes the same in a news analysis, aptly titled, "Idea of Rapid Withdrawal From Iraq Seems to Fade."

The Little-Known John McCain

Now, back to 2008. The election is only two years away, people, it's really time to focus. I'm not sure of you've heard of this guy who maybe, potentially, exploratorily will be running for president in 2008. His name is Sen. John McCain. He occasionally appears on Sunday morning television programs. The New York Times' front page informs us that he showed up at the Republican Governor's Association meeting in Florida and he's not a governor.

And the head of the RGA leading the conference is Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney "who is widely viewed as Mr. McCain's chief rival for their party's 2008 presidential nomination." Both men "politely deferred questions about 2008." And McCain threw a reception that "lathered governors with platters of shrimp and three open bars."

In other exciting election-related news, (really, it's never to early) the Washington Post's front page reports that "paperless electronic voting machines used throughout the Washington region and much of the country 'cannot be made secure,' according to draft recommendations issued this week by a federal agency that advises the U.S. Election Assistance Commission."

By the way, that assessment is the "most sweeping condemnation of such voting systems by a federal agency." The problem is that most of these voting machines leave no paper trail — so officials can't recount ballots themselves and voters can't review their own summaries on paper, which critics say contributes to the potential for error and diminished voter confidence. Now, get out there and make your voice heard, kids! Every vote counts!

On The Web: Yes, Virginia, The Washington Redskins Do Have Something In Common With U.S. Foreign Policy

I am not a sports gal. My knowledge of sports is restricted to those periods of time when it becomes a necessary element of my interpersonal relationships or intersects with my job, and those times are not greeted with glee. One of those times, unfortunately, was during the 2004 election.

I'm referring, of course, to the legend (which I guess ends up in headlines every four years) that the outcome of the Redskins' final home game before Election Day predicts the outcome of the presidential election.

If the Redskins win, the incumbent party wins; if they lose, the incumbent loses. At least that's how history had panned out for 67 years, until 2004's election, when the Redskins lost and the incumbent won, and the world came to a screeching halt.

Fear not. The Redskins analogies don't have to stop just because one so-called legend has been proved a myth.

An intelligent little sprite at The Globalist (his name is
Nathan Richter and he is identified as a high school student who is "very interested in history and its social dimensions,") has drawn some more information about the intersection of the Redskins and American politics. It is titled "The Washington Redskins and U.S. Foreign Policy" and it's about as engaging as anything else you'll read today (which I mean as a compliment and as a person generally uninterested in sports) so you ought to have a look.

One example of the similarities: Redskins' coach Joe Gibbs and President Bush are "united in their reluctance to make personnel changes," writes Richter. "It was only after Democrats took control of both the Senate and House in the November 2006 midterm elections that Bush removed Rumsfeld. For Gibbs, it took a 27-3 thumping by the Philadelphia Eagles to send Redskins quarterback Mark Brunell to the bench — even though the move had been eagerly anticipated in Washington for a while."

[sty1]

The people that elected this fool should all have to spend 2 years in downtown BAGDAD. Why are half of the people in the united states so tunnel headed an BLIND.

[sandy5274]

So has anyone realized by now,that it must be
old man George H W Bush that is the one running
the US and not Junior Bush? As King George41 was
constantly running to his Mr Fix It Goofball
James Baker everytime he got in trouble himself,
to quick come bail him out,just like King George41 keeps doing for Junior King George43?
I fully agree James Baker is a total idiot and
one of the biggest political has been around,just
like the old man Bush,and you bet it makes one
wonder is this all the Gang Of Perverts Republican Party have left as their elder statesman? Im sick of Old Man Bush & James Baker
Meddling in Our US Government!

[bushrocks1]

Would I send my son to this war? You might ask would I send him to World War II? Or Vietnam? Maybe you would distinguish those conflicts and whether you would send your son to fight in them. But that question is misdirected in a very important way: I can't command my son to go to war. He has to make that choice. So the better question would be: would I volunteer to fight in Iraq, WW II, Vietnam? Would I volunteer to fight in any war? Respond if drafted? I don%u2019t know. I'm not equivocating, only addressing that it is a hypothetical. To a hypothetical, I can answer, sure I'd fight. But I have nightmares of battle (from my past life as a Jacobite). So how do I feel toward those who do volunteer? Impressed and maturely knowing that many things go into their decision. But I do strongly believe that a country that can't find those men is doomed. The fact that we can find them is one reason why I say there is no failure in Iraq. Objectively, I also believe it for other reasons. An attempt to establish democracy in the Middle East is a bold, brilliant, noble effort, facing a high chance of failure. That's why I greatly respect and admire those who have made the attempt--the Bush administration. They have been resolute, something I have not seen in my lifetime. They may not succeed, for reasons outside their control or fault: traitors on the home front being a big one. Now those traitors have apparently occupied the high ground. Yet... we're still in Iraq. Why?...I'm waiting.

[scouser345-2009]

Hey Bushrocks1, many of us are in awe of your posting, I'll never forget the first time I read it.It was exhilerating. You are indeed a wizard of the written word. Alas, your single posting has not quenched our thirst. Please sir,would you honor us with a new and different posting so we can feel that special joy over again.

[j-whitman]

Think something smells a bit like old fish ?? Are our troops fighting for Iraq or another republican election ??

[pakaal]

"...Most of us have placed tall hopes on this commission finding the magic bullet to get us out of this mess"

Yeah, unfortunately it turns out we already knew all the options, and none of them are good. Some are rational, however. The problem is that the administration refuses to bow to rationality.

[sunshine_2]

roach9703:
"This IRAQ study group may not succeed because Arab Americans were not consulted about possible solutions,the Europeans may not been consulted for their ideas...."
The Arab Nations as well Neighbors of Iraq have been consulted as well as our European Allies, so on that part you are wrong. The comment about discussing it with "Arab Americans": Why would a Study Group consult some partisan groups or individuals when they have been consulting with Institutions and Middle East Professionals over this issue.
Too many "Opinions" may only muddy the waters more, rather then make for an easier and clearer plan.
My Expectations are that America will see a Plan (Recommendations) that is closer to the "middle" and is somewhat acceptable to both Republicans as well as Democrats, adn does suggest changing the Direction of american Involvement in the Civil War we are no in the middle of.
As with many Recommendations, Mr. Bush can either accept, accept parts or reject the whole plan. Only the President of the US. has Authority over Foriegn Affairs. Mr. Bush has already publicly "rejected any graceful exit" as not acceptable. Meaning he will not support an early withdrawal or a phased pull out, and that putting time-table on any "actions" is not acceptable.
This may have just been a wast of American tax dollars, to buy Mr. Bush time or re-align a stiffer political base, Unless Mr. Bush becomes more willing to Negotiate With America.

[jn122736]

The dung pit this administration has dug us into in Iraq is virtually unsalvageable. Neither the republicans nor democrats have any idea what actually to do next (specified steps)?

Americans as a whole have an inexplicably optimistic nature. Why else do millions of us continue to buy lottery tickets with the odds against winning being what they are?

%u2026 Most of us have placed tall hopes on this commission finding the magic bullet to get us out of this mess when we really don%u2019t believe there is one.

The bottom line is, no matter how soon or late we accept Iraq as a loss and withdraw, Hugh costs will follow, not the least to our egos.
%u2026 The longer we take to decide, the more American servicemen and women will be sacrificed.

Just how much is our egos worth?

[roach9703]

This IRAQ study group may not succeed because Arab Americans were not consulted about possible solutions,the Europeans may not been consulted for their ideas, and so you have the same foreign policy apparatchiks we have had for the past 30 years finding solutions to problems they, themselves contributed to. The Editorial in the Washington Times about Baker provides some evidence to prove this point.

superchez1...as far as I can see he has not posted here, why get him going again, just ignore him and maybe he will go away, he likes the attention, maybe whacks off with excitement

[stevex47]

I keep expecting to hear Cheney for pres. and either rumsfeld or connie for vice pres.....what up?

[egresor]

this is just another joke commission in the attempt to put on an 'we're doing something about it' face for the public.

low and behold who did they get as the leaders of it? daddy bush's men and to give the appearance of political balance----one of those who gave us the laughable 9-11 report--- lee hamilton! you remember that one don't you. that was the one that ignored half the evidence. basically didn't question anything that was fed to them and came up with recommendations that have been mostly ignored by the administration that appointed them.

great job fellas!

[aeasus]

Are we paying this commission to come up with those responses? If so where do I sign up?