White House fights pressure for early Iraq withdrawal

[spindrifter]

The Sunday Times December 03, 2006

Sarah Baxter, Washington

THE White House is resisting efforts by an advisory commission on Iraq strategy to force the pace on troop withdrawals and negotiations with Iran and Syria.

At the Pentagon, the joint chiefs of staff are also determined not to be pushed into “managing defeat” after the Iraq Study Group, led by James Baker, the former secretary of state, and former Democrat congressman Lee Hamilton, reports this week.

A backlash from the right against the long-awaited report is gathering force.

The neo-conservative journal, The Weekly Standard, has derided the Baker group’s work as “a fancy way of justifying surrender”. A photo-shoot last week of the co-chairmen by celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz for Men’s Vogue magazine has been greeted with much amusement.

<more>

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-2483894,00.html

[Me.]

1. And Everyone Thought Those Neos Were Smarter

than they apparently are. Being amused at Baker's expense? Wonder what he'll think of that and how many horse heads will show up in how many beds?