Iraq Study Group Report

This morning, I watched the news conference accompanying the release of the much anticipated Iraq Study Group Report. The report was facilitated by the United States Institute of Peace, and provides a bi-partisan, forward looking view of situation in Iraq through 79 linked recommendations. The Study Group is comprised of a wealth of policy experts, including former Secretary of State James Baker, and former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. I have to say I was both relieved and frustrated to hear the jist of the report– relieved because I get the sense that the group took a realistic approach in drafting the report– no promises of victory, no sugar coating, no overly-lofty goals, but rather a more forthright design for ‘success,’ accompanied by pragmatic and realistic goals. With this relief, I was also frustrated because the report drives home just how dismal the disposition of Iraq is. The findings of the group indicate that there is no possibility for ‘victory’ in Iraq as the current Administration has led us to believe all along; the best we can hope for are smaller, more finite ‘successes’ like bringing U.S. Troops home and releasing Iraq to the control of the Iraqi Government. The current Administration, conceding its failure in handling the situation in Iraq, has vocalized support for the report, and has pledged to follow it’s recommendations, but it remains to be seen how many it will follow– the Report is neither legislation nor an executive order, so it has no binding effect on the President or Congress. I just wanted to share this pivotal event with you all, as it may well have heavy bearing on what happens in the Middle East.