Iraq calls for bitter medicine

[bemildred]

With the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld as US secretary of defense, focus has shifted to the bipartisan Iraq Study Group led by former secretary of state James Baker and former Democratic congressman Lee Hamilton. The ISG will soon recommend a different course for the US in Iraq.

President George W Bush and his national-security team were to meet with the ISG on Monday, even as Democrats, fresh from their success in last week's mid-term election, are demanding a "bold change" in course on Iraq and even an early withdrawal of troops.

Josh Bolten, Bush's chief of staff, has conceded that "we clearly need a fresh approach". Exactly what this will be is not yet clear, but engaging Iran and Syria to help stabilize Iraq is regularly mentioned as an "unofficial" aspect of consensus of the ISG.

This is all very well, but Bush, despite accepting that his Republican Party received a "thumping" from voters last Tuesday, has yet to show any inclination to do anything that does not suit his persistent views of staying put in Iraq, no matter the cost. Even the confirmation of former Central Intelligence Agency director Robert Gates as Rumsfeld's successor is not likely to change anything unless Bush shows a willingness to accept a radical departure on Iraq.

Asia Times

[Erika]

1. We have no leader or president, just commissions

and past leaders to try to help us out of this mess. W deserves impeachment for this mess and the innocent deaths of thousands of our troops and innocent Iraqis.