Panel: Iraq 'Grave And Deteriorating'

(CBS/AP)  President Bush's policy in Iraq "is not working," a high-level commission said bluntly on Wednesday, prodding the administration to embrace diplomacy to stabilize the country and allow withdrawal of most combat troops by early 2008.

However, "There is no magic formula to solve the problems of Iraq," said the Iraq Study Group's co-chairman, James A. Baker III.

The United States faces a "grave and deteriorating" situation after nearly four years of war in Iraq, the high-level commission warned bluntly, prodding Mr. Bush to launch a diplomatic offensive to stabilize the country and allow withdrawal of most combat troops by early 2008.

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.

Baker said staying the course is "no longer viable," but added that a quick U.S. withdrawal would invite a wider regional war.

After presenting the report to Mr. Bush, Baker and co-chair, former Rep. Lee Hamilton, D-Ind., spoke at a news conference at which Hamilton said combat forces have to be moved out "responsibly." By early 2008, the panel thinks some U.S. combat brigades could be gone.

But American troops would still be there, and Hamilton said a key mission should be targeting al Qaeda in Iraq.

The group is also urging a diplomatic effort, including Syria and Iran, something Mr. Bush has opposed. Hamilton said that while all options aren't exhausted, there are no guarantees in stopping "a slide toward chaos."

The report does not suggest a timetable for troop withdrawals as some in Congress have done, but it does say the United States must not commit to keep large numbers of troops in Iraq, CBS News senior White House correspondent Bill Plante reports.

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Read the Iraq Study Group's report (1.72 MB).

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The commission recommended the United States reduce "political, military or economic support" for Iraq if the government in Baghdad cannot make substantial progress toward providing for its own security.

Mr. Bush received the report in an early morning meeting at the White House with commission members. He pledged to treat each proposal seriously and act in a "timely fashion."

He was flanked by Baker and Hamilton in a remarkable scene — a president praising the work of a group that had just concluded his policy had led to chaos.

The report painted a grim picture of Iraq nearly four years after U.S. forces toppled Saddam Hussein.

It warned that if the situation continues to deteriorate, there is a risk of a "slide toward chaos (that) could trigger the collapse of Iraq's government and a humanitarian catastrophe."

"Neighboring countries could intervene. ... The global standing of the United States could be diminished. Americans could become more polarized," commissioners said.

With diplomacy under way, the report said, the U.S. should increase the number of combat and other troops that are embedded with and supporting Iraqi Army units.

"As these actions proceed, U.S. combat forces could begin to move out of Iraq. ... By the first quarter of 2008, subject to unexpected developments in the security situation on the ground, all combat brigades not necessary for force protection could be out of Iraq."

Baker, Hamilton and the other members of the commission traveled to the Capitol from the White House to present their findings to senior lawmakers. The report makes 79 separate recommendations on Iraq policy, said one official familiar with the work.

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[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"?