Iraqtile Dysfunction

I've been waiting to use that title for months! God of bad puns smile down upon me.

At last! The Iraq Study Group Report arrives.

"The United States should immediately launch a new diplomatic offensive to build an international consensus for stability in Iraq and the region... Iraq's neighbours and key states in and outside the region should form a support group to reinforce security and national reconciliation within Iraq..."
Woohoo! Let's start to talk to Iran and Syria instead of threatening to bomb them back to the stone age.

"The United States cannot achieve its goals in the Middle East unless it deals with the Arab-Israeli conflict and regional instability."

Can't see this one working; the hardliners in Israel would go apeshit. Nice try though.
I notice they added an exemption:
"This commitment must include direct talks with, by, and between Israel, Lebanon and Palestinians (those who accept Israel's right to exist), and Syria..."
So no part in talks for democratically elected Hizbollah. Hypocrites …

"By the first quarter of 2008, subject to unexpected developments in the security situation on the ground, all combat brigades not necessary for force protection could be out of Iraq..."

Good news all round; not least for families of servicemen and women fighting George's personal vendetta. Still no timetable exactly, but a big step in the right direction.

"US foreign policy is doomed to failure - as is any course of action in Iraq - if it is not supported by a broad, sustained consensus. The aim of our report is to move our country toward such a consensus."

Splendid.
I like quite a lot of this report quite a lot.
Well done to all my blogpals who voted for change. I think the report shows as much about what's happening in the States as what's happening in Iraq.
George is still defiant, but even his close allies are edging away from him now, which is rather entertaining to watch.