Baker Panel to recommend gradual troop withdrawl, all combat brigades

[Thorgrim]

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29 — The bipartisan Iraq Study Group reached a consensus on Wednesday on a final report that will call for a gradual pullback of the 15 American combat brigades now in Iraq but stop short of setting a firm timetable for their withdrawal, according to people familiar with the panel’s deliberations.

As described by the people involved in the deliberations, the bulk of the report by the Baker-Hamilton group focused on a recommendation that the United States devise a far more aggressive diplomatic initiative in the Middle East than Mr. Bush has been willing to try so far, including direct engagement with Iran and Syria. Initially, those contacts might be part of a regional conference on Iraq or broader Middle East peace issues, like the Israeli-Palestinian situation, but they would ultimately involve direct, high-level talks with Tehran and Damascus.

Iraq Panel to Recommend Pullback of Combat Troops - New York Times

Bush isn't going to like either, and as the article explains, its going to give cover to Republicans to start defecting from Bush on supporting the war

[kinggovernor]

this is nothing groundbreaking

[Scrum]

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

this is nothing groundbreaking

It's been like 2 weeks since the administration decided they never said "stay the coarse".

[kinggovernor]

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

It's been like 2 weeks since the administration decided they never said "stay the coarse".

"stay the course" is too broadly defined

[SpicyMcVoodoo]

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

"stay the course" is too broadly defined

You're starting to sound like Clinton.

[motivez]

My question to the Republicans on this board is this:

Do you still stand by the idea that it would be a bad idea, cause more problems, etc, if we were to start having either a phased withdrawal and/or redeployment of troops to start putting pressure on the Iraqi's to take control?

[ballz2wallz]

Not if the Iraqis are ready (and able) to take control, as the article suggests, and as the Republicans have been saying this whole time. It's gotta happen sometime.

The commander of coalition forces in northern Iraq said Friday that four Iraqi army divisions in his area will be put under Baghdad's control by next March, just the kind of transfer that a U.S. study commission reportedly is ready to embrace.

[garbagemanlb]

Originally Posted by SpicyMcVoodoo

You're starting to sound like Clinton.