Iraq Study Group: Stay the Course is Not Working..(phased withdrawal)

[RedEarth]

October 16, 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, 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. "There'll probably be some things in our report that the administration might not like," Baker said in a television interview last week.

It's unclear how willing Bush is to change his strategy, which focuses on improving security in Baghdad, training Iraqi security forces and pressing the Iraqi government to forge a political agreement among warring factions.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-fg-planb16oct16,0,1935443,print.story?coll=ny-leadnationalnews-headlines

[Selatius]

1. Changing course means admitting the previous position was wrong

I am not sure Bush is willing to admit he fucked up.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

2. Now there's a "No Shit" headline. n/t

[mnmoderatedem]

3. 2 things

while I'm glad they are at least contemplating a phased withdrawl, I'm not sure bringing Iran and Syria in is a good idea.

"there's got to be a better way." - not necessarily. Pandora's Box was opened in March 2003. No going back. We seem destined to leave with our tail between our legs.