Member of Baker Iraq panel: Recommendation will not be "Stay the course" [View All]

[DeepModem Mom]

LAT: 'Stay the Course' in Iraq? U.S. Panel Says No Way
By Doyle McManus, Times Staff Writer
October 15, 2006

WASHINGTON — A commission backed by President Bush that is exploring U.S. options in Iraq intends to propose significant changes in the administration's strategy by early next year, members say.

Two options under consideration would represent reversals of U.S. policy: withdrawing American troops in phases, and bringing neighboring Iran and Syria into a joint effort to stop the fighting.

While it weighs alternatives, the 10-member commission headed by former Secretary of State James A. Baker III has agreed on one principle."It's not going to be 'stay the course,' " one participant said. "The bottom line is, (current U.S. policy) isn't working.... There's got to be another way."

If the panel recommends overhauling Bush's approach to Iraq, it could give a boost not only to critics of current policy but also to officials in the administration who have argued for broad changes....Bringing Iran and Syria into negotiations would require significant changes in U.S. policy.

"To bring them in, we need to stop emphasizing things like democracy and start emphasizing things like stability and territorial integrity," said James Dobbins of the Rand Corp., a former U.S. envoy to Afghanistan. "We need to stop talking about regime change. It's unreasonable to think you can stabilize Iraq and destabilize Iran and Syria at the same time."...

http://www.latimes.com/la-fg-planb16oct16,0,1535550.story?track=mostviewed-homepage