NY Sun: Baker's Panel Rules Out Iraq Victory

[grytpype]

Big, big leak from the Baker Commission. Baker wants Dub to give up on establishing democracy in Iraq, and either stabilize Baghdad by any means necessary or "cut and run."

Little Lord Pissypants is not going to like this!

WASHINGTON — A commission formed to assess the Iraq war and recommend a new course has ruled out the prospect of victory for America, according to draft policy options shared with The New York Sun by commission officials.

Currently, the 10-member commission — headed by a secretary of state for President George H.W. Bush, James Baker — is considering two option papers, "Stability First" and "Redeploy and Contain," both of which rule out any prospect of making Iraq a stable democracy in the near term.

...

Instead, the commission is headed toward presenting President Bush with two clear policy choices that contradict his rhetoric of establishing democracy in Iraq. The more palatable of the two choices for the White House, "Stability First," argues that the military should focus on stabilizing Baghdad while the American Embassy should work toward political accommodation with insurgents. The goal of nurturing a democracy in Iraq is dropped.

...

The "Redeploy and Contain" option calls for the phased withdrawal of American soldiers from Iraq, though the working groups have yet to say when and where those troops will go. The document, read over the telephone to the Sun, says America should "make clear to allies and others that U.S. redeployment does not reduce determination to attack terrorists wherever they are." It also says America's top priority should be minimizing American casualties in Iraq.

(much more at article)

http://www.nysun.com/article/41371

[John Gauger]

1. Baker can leave Iraq

He's made his millions off of the war. His masters in Saudi Arabia want us out, so he wants us out.

[snooper2]

2. and since it is "politically sensitive...

It won't be released till after the election...

[rodeodance]

3. someone said Bush did not use the word Victory in his press conf. yest-

erday. (don't know for sure)-------but he also said he had not read Bakers report.

Co-incidence?

[rodeodance]

4. in other words-Bush knew when he gave the Press conf. yesterday.

.....But when Foley's friend saw the Congressman again this spring, something had changed. To the source's surprise, Foley told him he would indeed be standing for re-election. What happened? Karl Rove intervened.

According to the source, Foley said he was being pressured by "the White House and Rove gang," who insisted that Foley run. If he didn't, Foley was told, it might impact his lobbying career.

"He said, 'The White House made it very clear I have to run,'" explains Foley's friend, adding that Foley told him that the White House promised that if Foley served for two more years it would "enhance his success" as a lobbyist. "I said, 'I thought you wanted out of this?' And he said, 'I do, but they're scared of losing the House and the thought of two years of Congressional hearings, so I have two more years of duty.'"

The White House declined a request for comment on the matter, but obviously the plan hasn't worked out quite as Rove hoped it would.

[central scrutinizer]

5. but, but, but, what about Mission Accomplished!!!

I'm series!11!!

Maybe instead of Redeploy and Contain, they should just call it: FUBAR

[blitzen]

12. "Mission Un-Accomplished"

[0007]

22. I beg your pardon!

[rodeodance]

6. "Redeploy and Contain"---hey Murtha-bush stole your strategy!

[Supersedeas]

25. yep, that's MURTHA's plan--he gets Swiftboated for it--Baker gets Medal

of Freedom or something

[David Zephyr]

28. MURTHA'S PLAN! NO BAKER'S! MURTHA'S PLAN!

And they challenged his patriotism!

[rodeodance]

7. "politically explosive topic "----so agreed NOT to releave till after Nov7

Because of the politically explosive topic of the Baker commission, the panel has agreed not to release its findings until after the November 7 elections. The commission, formally known as the Iraq Study Group, was created by Congress in legislation sponsored by Rep. Frank Wolf, a Republican of Virginia and close confidant of Mr. Bush's. Mr. Baker has said he will likely present the panel's findings in December.

[wordpix]

16. Baker won't let American people know until Dec? What's a few more thousan

d deaths and tens of thousands more maimed in Iraq? No big deal.

[Felix Mala]

8. I've always expected this -- the cheapest route was always to replace

Saddam with a newer, America-friendly Saddam. Real democracy costs big bucks that W's shareholders don't wish to spend.

[rodeodance]

10. but we sure kicked out billions in taxpayers $$.

[wordpix]

17. Halliburton, KBR, Blackwater & ExxonBigOil laughing all the way to bank

[grytpype]

13. That WAS the plan!

Chalabi was supposed to take over, but it turns out he lied about how much support he actually had in Iraq (none). Then Sistani demanded one-person-one-vote elections, which is why we had elections at all in Iraq. Bush took credit for it of course.

[rodeodance]

9. RECOMMEND

[MGKrebs]

11. Still no mention of "consensus" or "summit" or "cooperation".

We are still acting unilaterally. Even this will leave a void which, without some planning and constructive actions, will just be largely filled by other opportunists with little care for much beyond their own power and wealth.

[grytpype]

14. kick, please consider recommending

[acmavm]

15. Hoo hoo, if this would get some media exposure then the

repubs would think the news about Foley was a good thing.

THE OLD MAN'S HATCHET GUYS KNOWS SONNY-BOY DONE LOST HIS WAR.

Wonder how Junior feels about this? He was so gung ho wanting to outdo Poopy. Poopy didn't lose his war.

What a friggin' joke.

[carzen]

18. This pretty much guarantees that shrub will ignore him

[grytpype]

19. An earlier report said the recommendtions would be cleared with * first

But of course that doesn't mean he will actually listen.

[Amonester]

31. Depends on what barney and pickles say. - eom

[roamer65]

20. How long b4 they put Saddam back in power?

[tothcarp]

41. I always thought that he would come back

Our debacle in Iraq was mainly due do us firing and not paying
the forces in place, those being paid on time by Saddam. Now
who you gonna love....some prick who didn't pay you and shut
off your families electric and water???/OR.....A guy you know
can get the job done, AND hes got 31 Billion stashed. IMHO
there is a real loyalty thing here, and sooner or later he
will be cutting out tongues and turning the power back on. 

[IndianaGreen]

21. Protect Saigon versus Vietnamization

Our emperor is not going to like either of these choices.

[David Zephyr]

29. Ain't that the truth?!!!

I am really steamed about how they gave John Murtha so much crap and now they plan to admit (after the election...the November Surprise) that everything he said was spot on and dare to take credit for it.

[calimary]

33. Well, it's out in the New York Sun - so why can't we help it out farther

BEFORE "after the election"?

Just, maybe, this ought to circulate out in the broad daylight a little more, yanno?

[leesa]

35. At least they have that fine new mansion/US embassy to drop the helicopter

ladders down to...it should make a beauteous picture!

[Solly Mack]

23. I'd smirk

but for the seriousness of the matter

[greeneyedboy]

24. so we spent $$$billions for what exactly? oh yeah, KBR & Bechtel etc.

[teryang]

26. euphemism for we're losing n/t

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

27. "...accommodation with insurgents?"

Eat that Freepers.

[David Zephyr]

30. Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, Hadley & all get down and kiss Murtha's ass

Kiss his ass.

[Akoto]

32. Bush: "I don't believe in statistifyin'. Heheh."

[Porcupine]

34. Thus the rise of John "Death Squad" Negroponte. nt

.

[calimary]

36. I just sent this to Keith Olbermann.

You can, too...

Keith Olbermann <[e-mail] >, <[e-mail] >

[lumberjack_jeff]

37. In other words: "We lost yet another war"

Doesn't that suck? Perhaps someone should be held accountable for dragging us into a no-win situation.

Perhaps the families of the 2700 servicemembers who died in it.

Now that winning is no longer an option, how can it be justified to sacrifice any more lives?

What a clusterfuck.

[Oak2004]

38. Bush is going for an American record:

Losing *two* wars during the same presidency: Afghanistan is going to hell in a handbasket, too.

My biggest concern is that, given Washington's multifaceted intransigence, we're not going to have the opportunity for orderly withdrawal. I worry that our troops are not going to be at the wrong end of a khe san or Tet: I worry that they will be at the wrong end of a Dien Bien Phu.

[bklyncowgirl]

39. Interesting timing of this leak--also, isn't the Sun a Moonie paper?

My theory is that Poppy intends to snap a leash on Junior before he screws things up any further.

That's why Baker and Hamilton got sent to Iraq. Someone must have wanted to get this out before the election and into a friendly venue. I mean wouldn't leaking to the Washington Post or the New York Times be a better choice?

Junior must be furious but to be perfectly honest, this has been his life story. Junior screws up and Poppy sends someone--usually Jim Baker--in to salvage the situation. (Must suck to be Baker--though I'm sure the money's good)

As long as Lil'George listens to daddy he'll be able to serve out his term and spend the rest of his life playing golf and fishing at the taxpayers expense.

[Stockholm]

40. Panel 'to urge Iraq policy shift' (BBC)

Members of the panel, which is led by former US Secretary of State James Baker, told the LA Times the shift could include large troop withdrawals.

A senior US official reaffirmed Washington's support for Iraq's leaders but said they must increasingly assume responsibility for security.

The Iraq situation is a key issue in November's US mid-term elections.

"There's got to be another way," is how one member of the Iraq panel summed up their views on the situation in Iraq and the failure of current US policy, according to the LA Times.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6057740.stm