Bush, Paradoxically, to Heed and Ignore Advice On Iraq

With the approval of his handling of Iraq tanking, President Bush revealed today his intent to work with the new congressional leaders on possibly developing a new strategy for the war.Summing up the discussions, Bush said, "We talked about Iraq. We talked about the need for a new way forward in Iraq. And we talked about the need to work together on this important subject."

"The president admitted that some new tactics might be needed," incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said after Bush met at the White House with top Democrats and Republicans from Congress.
This is only the first step in Bush's plans to consider new tactics. At the start of the next week, he plans to meet and discuss strategies with members of the State Department, senior defense officials, outside experts and senior military commanders.

In a continued effort to coordinate and cooperate with the president, both Rep. Pelosi and Senator Reid proposed forming a bipartisan council in Congress to work with the administration on Iraq recommendations.Pelosi said she felt the president was "positively inclined toward it." Durbin said he would like to see it expanded beyond the Iraq issue.

"The time for change is now," Pelosi said.
A similar call has been issued by the Iraq Study Group, which recently released its findings to the public. (The AP has also compiled a collection of key selections, which you can find here.)Our most important recommendations call for new and enhanced diplomatic and political efforts in Iraq and the region, and a change in the primary mission of U.S. forces in Iraq that will enable the United States to begin to move its combat forces out of Iraq responsibly. We believe that these two recommendations are equally important and reinforce one another. If they are effectively implemented, and if the Iraqi government moves forward with national reconciliation, Iraqis will have an opportunity for a better future, terrorism will be dealt a blow, stability will be enhanced in an important part of the world, and America's credibility, interests and values will be protected.
Some of its key recommendations include an advisory against making "an open-ended commitment to keep large numbers of American troops deployed in Iraq" and that "The United States must make it clear to the Iraqi government that the United States could carry out its plans, including planned redeployments, even if Iraq does not implement its planned changes."

One of its more controversial recommendations, though, is diplomatic cooperation with Iran and Syria.Given the ability of Iran and Syria to influence events within Iraq and their interest in avoiding chaos in Iraq, the United States should try to engage them constructively. In seeking to influence the behavior of both countries, the United States has disincentives and incentives available. Iran should stem the flow of arms and training to Iraq, respect Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and use its influence over Iraqi Shia groups to encourage national reconciliation. The issue of Iran's nuclear programs should continue to be dealt with by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany. Syria should control its border with Iraq to stem the flow of funding, insurgents and terrorists in and out of Iraq.

The United States cannot achieve its goals in the Middle East unless it deals directly with the Arab-Israeli conflict and regional instability. There must be a renewed and sustained commitment by the United States to a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace on all fronts: Lebanon, Syria and President Bush's June 2002 commitment to a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. This commitment must include direct talks with, by and between Israel, Lebanon, Palestinians - those who accept Israel's right to exist - and Syria.
Troops who reviewed the ISG were not as critical about its findings as they were of how Bush may handle it."There's no way we're leaving in two years no matter what any recommendation says," Spc. Eisenhower Atuatasi, 26, of Westminster, Calif., said. He thought 2012 was more realistic.

Sgt. Christopher Wiacik, 28, of Lavonia, Mich., also was pessimistic.

"It's just a study group. It's not really going to affect the president. I don't see any major changes happening until presidential elections start," Wiacik said. "I think both sides will promise to get troops out and give timelines then, but not before."

"It's like holding a child's hand. How long can you hold onto his hand before he does something on his own?" Johnson said. "How much longer do we have to get shot at or blown up?"

1st Lt. Gerard Dow said he agreed with the commission's assessment that the situation in Iraq was "grave and disappointing."

"In Iraq, we try to win the hearts and minds of population," said Dow, 32, of Chicago. "They want Americans out of here. They blame us for all their problems. They look at us as the terrorists and then they turn around and help the terrorists who are trying to kill us."Bush's reaction to the ISG was not as positive.Bush, at a joint news conference with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, distanced himself from some main recommendations of the Iraq Study Group's proposals for reshaping his policy. The president objected to talks with Iran and Syria and refused to endorse a major troop withdrawal.

When a British reporter suggested Bush was denying even to himself how bad things are, the president tartly replied, "It's bad in Iraq. That help?"
One of the co-chairs of the ISG is James Baker, who managed Bush's legal strategy and served as campaign chairman for Bush's presidential run. Even after that, though, it appears that the president is hesitant about heeding Baker's recommendations.Asked if Baker would help implement the report, a spokesman for Mr. Bush said, "Jim Baker can go back to his day job."

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