Iraq Study Group Report

The bipartisan panel set up to give an in-depth report on the current state of affairs in Iraq and to offer tangible suggestions for possible further actions has convened, and now has something to say. Today, the Group met with President Bush to discuss its findings which were released in the Iraq Study Group Report. The Group is scheduled to meet with various leaders from the House and Senate over the coming week. Although much of the information has been leaked to the press throughout this week, the document has been officially excerpted by the NY Times today here.

The following is a brief summary of some of the panel's findings accompanied by some of my own thoughts:

1. ''The situation in Iraq is grave and deteriorating.'' --Wow, not as if we didn't already now but how comforting coming from the panel, that is a GREAT start...

2. ''We believe that these two recommendations are equally important and reinforce one another.''

3. Recommendations:There must be re-doubled efforts to work diplomatically to aid in the reconstruction in Iraq. The United States must bring bring all countries who are interested in the development of a secure nation, and who are willing into the diplomatic discussion. As such, the panel believes that it is absolutely essential to begin talks with ALL of Iraq's neighbors. The United States must begin constructive discussions with BOTH Syria and Iran. This next section is hugely important and in my opinion, MUST NOT be overlooked by the administration.

''Iran should stem the flow of arms and training to Iraq, respect Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and use its influence over Iraqi Shia groups to encourage national reconciliation. The issue of Iran's nuclear programs should continue to be dealt with by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany. Syria should control its border with Iraq to stem the flow of funding, insurgents and terrorists in and out of Iraq.''

The Report calls for increased efforts to stabilize the Arab-Israeli Conflict in order to ease regional tensions and provide a better platform for constructive assistance from local neighbors.

The Report calls for the US mission in Iraq to become solely one of supporting the Iraqi Army by the first quarter of 2008. If I'm not mistaken, that is what we have been attempting to do for the last two years. We want to pull out, we want to build up the army, we want to use a modified ''Vietnamization''process on Iraq...How is this goal any different? How are we going to do this? Granted the execution is unpublished and may be new, but this portion of the Report is roughly the same thing we have been hearing for months now.

''The primary mission of U.S. forces in Iraq should evolve to one of supporting the Iraqi army, which would take over primary responsibility for combat operations. 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. At that time, U.S. combat forces in Iraq could be deployed only in units embedded with Iraqi forces, in rapid-reaction and special operations teams and in training, equipping, advising, force protection and search and rescue. Intelligence and support efforts would continue. A vital mission of those rapid reaction and special operations forces would be to undertake strikes against al-Qaida in Iraq.''

President Bush has pledged to ''act in a timely'' manner after taking the panel's suggestions under consideration. It seems as if we have heard that before. We can only hope that with the departure of Donald Rumsfeld, and the addition of Robert Gates, that this may actually be true this time.

--ajc