This morning over breakfast, President Bush was formally presented the report of the Iraq Study Group (ISG). He may have been the last man in Washington to see the report intended for his reading. It had been leaked day after day to the New York Times by folks who understood very well that the report undermines any chance of success in Iraq. The 10-member ISG does not inspire confidence. Other than Reagan conservative Ed Meese, the commission members were drawn out of the left-of-center political establishment of Washington, D.C., such as former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and Clinton lawyer Vernon Jordan. While described in the media as foreign policy “realists,” their recommendations are anything but. James Baker and company essentially told the president that the “solution” in Iraq is for us to negotiate with Iran and Syria. Iran’s president said yet again today that the destruction of the United States will happen soon. Baker also emphasized that no progress will be made in Iraq and elsewhere until the Israeli-Palestinian question is settled. But forcing Israel to give up more “land for peace” will ultimately result in no land for Israel and no peace for us.
Sadly, not one career military man served on the ISG. Its members went to Iraq once and did not venture out of the secured Green Zone. Why should its collective “wisdom” be considered by the president to be any better than the advice he receives daily from the men and women actually fighting the war? I don’t know if the president will accept any of the recommendations, but I do know this: The ISG conclusions will embolden America’s enemies and discourage America’s friends.
(Gary Bauer; End- of-Day; Dec. 6, 2006)
Pray for our Men and Women in Iniform - Special Photo Report
