by William D. Hartung
"Today's release of the Iraq Study Group report raises as many questions as it answers. A few highlights of the report and its 79 recommendations follow.
Troop Withdrawals?
Despite some early headlines suggesting that the Iraq Study Group would be calling for a withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from Iraq by the beginning of 2008, a look at the fine print suggests otherwise. The group's recommendations look more like an exercise in "bait and switch" than an actual commitment to U.S. withdrawal.
Greater Honesty, Less Spin
Does Size Matter?
By padding the length of its report and releasing it as a Vintage Press book, the Iraq Study Group seems to be trying to make its analysis and recommendations look as if they are as "hefty" and substantive as the 9/11 Commission Report.
Throwing Bones to Critics
While the study group studiously avoids making a timeline for U.S. withdrawal - leaving the way clear for the very "open-ended" U.S. troop commitment that it claims to oppose - it does suggest a few small reforms along the lines suggested by some critics of the war.
The Politics of Withdrawal
By offering the prospect of some change - even if it leaves tens of thousands of combat troops and trainers in Iraq in 2008 and beyond -- the Baker-Hamilton report could take pressure off Republicans and Democrats alike. Major figures in both parties could be relieved of the demand to push for a genuine withdrawal prior to the 2008 presidential elections.
Citizens who want a quicker timeline for U.S. withdrawal and a genuine military disengagement from Iraq will need to make their voices heard if U.S. policy is to go beyond the half-measures set out by the Baker-Hamilton panel."
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