Panel: Iraq 'Grave And Deteriorating'

Iraq Study Group Releases Long-Awaited Suggestions, Says Current Policy 'Not Working'

(CBS/AP) 
The recommendations came at a pivotal time, with Mr. Bush under domestic pressure to change course and with the new, Democratic-controlled Congress certain to cast a skeptical look at administration policy.

Additionally, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, the architect of the administration's war policy, has resigned. His replacement, Robert Gates, is on track for Senate confirmation this week after a remarkable assessment of his own — that the United States is not winning the war.

Mr. Bush has rejected establishing timetables for withdrawing the 140,000 U.S. troops and has said he isn't looking for "some kind of graceful exit out of Iraq."

It was the type of violence that has led many to declare that Iraq is in the throes of a civil war — an assessment that Mr. Bush has refused to accept.

By whatever name, Baker, Hamilton and the other eight members of the commission said the status quo was unacceptable.

"Violence is increasing in scope and lethality. It is fed by a Sunni Arab insurgency, Shiite militias, death squads, al Qaeda and widespread criminality. Sectarian conflict is the principal challenge to stability."

Mr. Bush said the report "gives a very tough assessment of the situation in Iraq. It is a report that brings some really very interesting proposals, and we will take every proposal seriously and we will act in a timely fashion."

He also urged members of Congress to give serious consideration to the recommendations.

"While they won't agree with every proposal, and we probably won't agree with every proposal, it nevertheless is an opportunity to come together and to work together on this important issue," he said.

As CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer suggests, Mr. Bush will acknowledge the report, but will not adopt all of its recommendations. Instead, the president will most likely wait a couple weeks and then outline his new strategy for Iraq on national television.

By the end of 2007, it is likely that a substantial reduction in the number of U.S. troops in Iraq will occur, Schieffer reports.

The commission's recommendation to have U.S. forces embedded with Iraqi units reflects an approach the military already has been emphasizing in recent months. But administration officials say Iraqis are not yet ready to go it alone against the insurgency.

The commission also recommended a renewed push to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict, saying the United States cannot otherwise achieve its goals in the Middle East.

U.S. allies in the region, including the powerful Sunni leadership in Saudi Arabia, say the Arab-Israeli conflict underlies other Mideast problems and that rancor from the impasse makes other issues harder to solve.

The commission recommended that a "diplomatic offensive" be aimed at building an international consensus for stability in Iraq, and that it include every country in the region.

The United States accuses Syria and Iran of bankrolling terrorism and stirring up trouble in the region. The United States has had no diplomatic ties to Iran for nearly three decades, and pulled its ambassador from Syria last year.

Still, the commission said, "Given the ability of Iran and Syria to influence events within Iraq and their interest in avoiding chaos in Iraq, the United States should try to engage them constructively."

"The Iraq Study Group assigns a key role to the United Nations, recommending a U.N. representative in the international diplomatic effort with Iran and Syria and with regard to Iran's nuclear weapons," said CBS News Foreign Affairs Analyst Pamela Falk from the U.N.

Ahead of the report's release, the White House said it would consider talking to Iran and Syria if the commission recommended it.

Yet the administration's overall tone has been one of skepticism about reaching accommodation with Tehran and Damascus. Administration officials have suggested there is more to lose than to gain by rewarding Iran and Syria with high-profile discourse with American diplomats, and warn that Iran in particular could try to use contact with U.S. officials to gain leverage in ongoing separate diplomacy over its nuclear program.

On Thursday, members of Baker's panel are expected to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee while Mr. Bush meets with British Prime Minister Tony Blair to discuss Iraq.

The bipartisan group was initiated earlier this year by Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., who returned from a trip to Iraq calling for a high-powered bipartisan task force that could assess U.S. options. Wolf added $1 million to a 2006 spending bill to fund the group.

[arthurcl1]

Also I agree with alphaa10's comments. And also besides the NSA spying what about the outing of the CIA operative, Valerie something I think was her name. Bush never wrote anything down about it. But he probably had a voice meeting with Cheney stating "Just do it". So it was Ok for Cheney to do the dirty work and put it out in the press about her. Just more "Dirty Tricks".

[arthurcl1]

After four years of war and the deaths of more than 2,900 U.S. troops and thousands of Iraqis, the situation is "grave and deteriorating," and the United States' ability "to influence events within Iraq is diminishing," the commission warned. At Last! The truth and nothing but the truth thrown in Bush,Cheney,Rumsfield's faces. They would never listen to anyone for the past 4 years bout this mess. Now they have egg on their faces as the Bush Empire Madness is over! Bush has the worst foreign policy in U.S. History!

[alphaa10-2009]

The most amusing aspect of all is how fast Bush must move as he scrambles for political cover.

That aside, how sad for America that six years and counting has been wasted on the schemes of this penultimate liar and criminal who easily deserves impeachment.

Pelosi said that measure is not on the table, but many would welcome the effort. Not only has Bush failed due diligence in many areas beyond Iraq, but with NSA spying, in particular-- clearly prohibited by law without a warrant-- he knowingly and repeated committed crimes against the American people.

In November, 2005, in Washington, DC, Bush, facing an assembly of party members critical of his NSA spying program, bristled like a teenager caught drinking after curfew-- "Stop throwing the Constitution in my face! It just a GD####! piece of paper!"

[alphaa10-2009]

Bush, the Criminal-in-Chief-- 2

Is this figure, who claims to be president of the United States, the same who pledged an oath to "protect, preserve and defend" the document he calls a "GD####! piece of paper"?

Any administration which lies to its people deserves what it gets-- the basic element of any political/social contract is trust in the honesty of leadership.

In contrast to those of his party who at least confessed their own lies, we have a pressing crisis for regime change with a lawless opportunist named Bush, who never admits a mistake or confesses a lie. Bush makes a mockery of the rule of law and American values, deceiving America about Iraq and a host of other issues in order to continue abusing the public trust.

[feelfree1]

Re: the photo

Which one is "grave" and which one is "deteriorating"?