Iraq Study Group Ripped - PING!
Iraq Study Group called "A Complete Failure" - PING!!
I agree with Melanie. What a shamnisty of a report.
Thanks for the ping!
Very disappointing report.
The Dems. must be delighted.
Thanks for the ping. I saw Bill Crystal tear it up and call it a 'non report' this morning on Fox News.
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The Iraq Study Group Report is out, and here is the full report and a separate file with the Executive Summary. Other ISG files and webpages of interest:
"Iraq Study Group Fact Sheet"
"Iraq Study Group Consultations"
Iraq Study Group Members with bios
"Expert Working Groups and Military Senior Advisor Panel"
UPDATE: N.Z. Bear has converted the ISG report into a series of HTML pages so that bloggers can comment on particular statements or sections of the report and send readers directly to the text in question.
Leaked excerpts included the following:
"If the situation continues to deteriorate, the consequences could be severe. A slide toward chaos could trigger the collapse of Iraq's government and a humanitarian catastrophe. Neighboring countries could intervene. Sunni-Shia clashes could spread. Al-Qaida could win a propaganda victory and expand its base of operations. The global standing of the United States could be diminished. Americans could become more polarized."
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"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. In seeking to influence the behavior of both countries, the United States has disincentives and incentives available. 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."
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"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."
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CT Blog experts have already opined on the possibility of "constructive engagement" with Iran and Syria:
Douglas Farah:
"The Danger of Empowering Terrorist States"
David Schenker has written these pieces on other sites:
Been There, Done That: Engaging Syria Isn't Going to Work
Assad State of Affairs
Syria's Answer
This Baker Study Group is as vapid as Dilbert's pointy-haired boss. Their solution for "peace" with a bunch of cowardly, obstinate, amoral thugs is "Simple: give them everything they want! (We're surprised no one thought of this before...we must be geniuses!)"