ISG

Certainly one of the most often quoted responses to the report issued on Wednesday by the Iraq Study Group came from former Vice President Al Gore. On the Iraq War he said, ".....an utter disaster, this was the worst strategic mistake in the entire history of the United States, and now we as a nation have to find a way ... to manage a disaster..." I couldn't agree more.


The headlines issued by major news outlets followed the pattern of pointing out the study group's message; the Iraq occupation is failing, major changes need to occur, and chaos and a humanitarian crisis are around the corner if we continue with the present policy.


From CNN - Iraq Study Group: Change Iraq strategy now

From the BBC - Iraq report 'is no magic formula'

From the LA TImes - Bush policy in Iraq not working, says study group

Coming from the extreme right side of the spectrum, the remaining neocons and their supporters are pressing for a significant troop build up in Iraq. They have been active in presenting articles in the right wing press and right wing news blogs that paint the Iraq Study Group members as being wrong in their thinking. One must remember that if it were not for James Baker working and intervening on behalf of the Bush family in the Florida election recount melee of 2000, then George Bush and the neocons would not have attained the Presidency in the first place.

Neocons Move to Preempt Baker Report by Jim Lobe

Within the actual recommendations of the study group we find the notion to begin diplomatic contact with Syria and Iran over the stabilization of Iraq. It has been pointed out that during the cold war, the United States engaged in diplomatic relations with its prime enemy, the USSR. The US did not ignore and refuse to negotiate with the USSR simply because they were our enemy. Here is an area of history that the extreme right needs to reexamine.

And then there are the actual people themselves, the little people, the rest of us who are not holding political power beyond our dwindling Constitutional right to vote, assemble in protest, and to speak freely on such matters. What do the American people and the Iraqi people think about the US involvement in Iraq.

Poll Shows Most Americans Want a Pullout

New Survey: Iraqis Want a Speedy U.S. Exit -- and Back Attacks on Our Forces

My prediction: Barring impeachment (In my opinion impeachment being the first order of business for the new Congress), Bush will choose the very few recommendations of all panels, including the Iraq Study Group's, which correspond most closely to his present "stay the course" policy. A policy which to anyone presently breathing is a colossal failure. Bush will do the minimum to give an appearance of change in Iraq all the while pressing for more war in Iran and Syria. Bush will prolong the occupation right through to the meaningless end of his destructive, fruitless, and ill conceived presidency.