Think Progress

Iraq Study Group 2.0?

By Amanda Terkel on Jan 21st, 2008 at 3:05 pm

Iraq Study Group 2.0?

The Crypt reports:

The Iraq Study Group might get a second go-round. Legislation pushed by Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.), which is now law, directs the U.S. Institute of Peace to support a second version of the commission that would send former Rep. Lee Hamilton and former Secretary of State James Baker III and two other commissioners to Iraq to assess the situation. Hamilton has told the Institute that he is prepared to go, according to Hamilton and an Institute spokesman.

“I think they could really be an asset,” said Wolf. “They ought to do it sooner and not later.” The Iraq Study Group initially recommended negotiations with neighboring countries and a gradual troop withdrawal. A second report, however, is waiting on Baker.



49 Responses to “Iraq Study Group 2.0?”

  1. Winski says:

    More phony facts prepared by cheeeny’s office will emerge.


  2. Max-1 says:

    .

    Stay in Iraq Sudy Group.

    .


  3. Fritz says:

    More lies, fear and “stay the course.”


  4. Mark @ News Corpse says:

    And BushCo won’t ignore this version because… ???


  5. Zimzone says:

    Could we please hear more about the U.S. Institute of Peace?

    Origin? Life? Members?

    Anyone?


  6. Chris L says:

    My main problem with study groups like this is that they never get out and see anything. In 2003 these guys (and others like them) were crawling all over the Al-Rasheed hotel in the Green Zone or talking to PAO’s at the Presidential Palace (I got in trouble for sneaking into the swimmming pool there once). But you wouldn’t see them anywhere near airport road, RTE Irish, or MSR Sue. If they really want to know anything about what is really going on in Iraq, they can’t just sit around in the IZ. They need a study group with guys emplaced in safe houses in Sadr City, embedded with troops in Diyala, or a transportation unit that runs between Cedars II and Anbar.

    My second problem with them is that no one ever listens to them anyway. They could do all of the things that I mentioned above, and when they got back it wouldn’t make a bit of difference. If they come back and say we should leave, is anyone really gonna listen?


  7. jb says:

  8. Zappatero says:

    they should go only if they’re willing to call out Bush.


  9. MCMetal says:

    The USIP is not a traditional federal agency and is actually an “independent nonpartisan national institution” –-living both in the government and nonprofit worlds. Some have claimed this could create conflicts of interest.

    No such thing ; anything for a buck and to further along Chimpy’s/NeoCon ideals and idiocy………


  10. tarazan says:

    Another buying time attempt…


  11. rastaman says:

    why? so more recommendations can be cheney (cherry) picked and others ignored?

    more historical revisionism and double think from the ministry of truthiness.


  12. desaparecido says:

    Yeah… study all those documents that you don’t have again.
    http://www.tshirtinsurgency.com


  13. had enough says:

    Bottom line- if the corporate powers that be along with the PNAC neocons wanted a true democracy and a successful state, they would have let the Iraqi people rebuild their own country, as they begged to do so, and pennies on the dollar, years ago. It only takes a fifth grade mentality to understand if you give those the ability to work, rebuild and gain income war and mayhem are less likely. This purposefully did not happen…. all rhetoric, past, present and future is nothing but pure nonsense and a means to buy time while the powers that be continue to rape our treasury.


  14. Impolitics says:

    How many more “Friedmans” will it take?


  15. dim wit says:

    Holy shit! There really is a US Institute of Peace:

    The United States Institute of Peace is an independent, nonpartisan, national institution established and funded by Congress. Its goals are to help prevent and resolve violent conflicts, promote post-conflict stability and development, and increase peacebuilding capacity, tools, and intellectual capital worldwide.

    http://www.usip.org/

    However, it appears the former name for this institute was the Ministry of Peace.


  16. Bob says:

    What we need is a 2.0 version of the 43rd presidency. Upgrade to a thinking version based in reality, elected by a majority, defender of the Constitution, and competent. Please, everything a President should be but lacking in this version.


  17. RUCerious says:

    Exactly how many study groups does one need before they come up with the correct answer. Di Mau Di. The Iraqis will figure out how to govern themselves. They aren’t children.


  18. Impolitics says:

    The Iraqis will figure out how to govern themselves. They aren’t children.

    Comment by RUCerious — January 21, 2008 @ 3:50 pm

    And that’s the heart of the tragedy that’s playing out; both there and here in the good ol’ U.S.A. Those who hold the power have lost sight of the fact that stable societies can only be built from within.

    Until they rediscover that people are the greatest resource on the planet, and spend time/money/effort developing that resource; we are doomed to repeat the cycle.


  19. MapleStreet says:

    I don’t get it.

    As I remember it, the first Study Group appeared to be an attempt by daddy Bush to bail out Shrub boy and find a way forward. A lot of high credential folks with credentials from daddy Bush and Reagan were put on the group. They made their report that very diplomatically urged Sonny Boy to think in regional terms and work with other countries.

    Of course, the Decider was right all along and continued with more of the same. The Iraq Study Group report was intentionally ignored including statement to the press that it had no standing.

    So what good is repeating it ?


  20. MapleStreet says:

    Maybe I should add, it will take a while for the study. So if a dem gets elected president it will be released in their early administration. So is this an attempt to box in the democratic president ?


  21. plunger says:

    what a crock…all to “bless the surge” and pave the way for President McCain and Vice President Lieberman.


  22. deebaser says:

    How many more “Friedmans” will it take?

    Comment by Impolitics — January 21, 2008 @ 3:47 pm
    —-

    Two.


  23. tarazan says:

    And what was adopted of the previous Study Group report?…nothing.!!

    Bush fired D. Rumsfeld about the time the report came out a year ago, replaced him with Robert Gates.
    And instead of reducing the number of troops per the Iraqi Group’s suggestions in the report, Bush started the Surge.

    The Report called for an open discussions with Syria and Iran. Bush in his last trip to the Middle East did the opposite.

    And now someone is looking for another Iraq Study report…a year later.
    what for?!!


  24. VerbalKint says:

    Whatever happened to the War Czar, anyway?


  25. Peter C says:

    What a crock! The first “Study Group” was mostly just a stalling tactic, and Georgie-boy ignored ALL of their recommendations and did exactly the opposite.

    This is an even more transparent stalling tactic.

    Baker is and old Bush-family fixer, anyway. He’s a completely untrustworthy snake.


  26. VerbalKint says:

    #26 Sigh. Another really, really stupid comment from bedwetter extraordinaire Frank.


  27. VerbalKint says:

    #26 So, pendejo, tell us again why oil is $100 a barrel?

    On second thought, don’t.


  28. wisedup says:

    The bottom line appears to be that chimp is locked on to: ‘I’ll win this war if it takes killing every soldier we’ve got.’ Someone PLEASE take him to the nut ward…quick.


  29. RUCerious says:

    Memo to Study Group II:

    Don’t bother.
    The next administration is getting us the hell out of there.
    Mistake accomplished.


  30. VerbalKint says:

    #28: Can you imagine how much more than $100 it would cost us if we weren’t in Iraq?

    Comment by Frank M — January 21, 2008 @ 4:45 pm

    Uh, $40? Is this a trick question?

    Frank, your stupidity is truly mind-numbing.


  31. VerbalKint says:

    Frank’s understanding of how the world works doesn’t rise to the cartoon level. I doubt he could find France on a map.


  32. Lefty Patriot says:

    Don’t tell me you believe we can get by without oil? This study group is nothing but an effort by the dissenters within the administration to stab the President in the back.

    Comment by Frank M — January 21, 2008 @ 4:41 pm

    we can only hope they are successful, literally. Bush promised to keep oil prices down, and failed. he should be removed from office for all of his lies and treason.


  33. pete says:

    #28: Can you imagine how much more than $100 it would cost us if we weren’t in Iraq?

    Comment by Frank M — January 21, 2008 @ 4:45 pm

    Hmm. Let’s see. After 9/11, but before the invasion of Iraq, oil was between $26.00 and $30.00 a barrel. What’s changed since then? We invaded Iraq. What’s the current price of oil? Right around $100.00.

    Gee. Ya think there might be a correlation? Ever hear of cause and effect?


  34. Lefty Patriot says:

    Oil from the Middle East is America’s lifeblood and risking its free flow to us is tantamount to giving up our nuclear arsenal.

    Comment by Frank M — January 21, 2008 @ 4:35 pm

    oil from the middle east accounts for less than 1/3 of our consumption. You are as stupid as everyone freaed, frank.


  35. pete says:

    Off Topic/

    BART’S back as “mike831″. Still lying through his teeth too.


  36. wisedup says:

    …’waiting on Baker’…..Baker is tied up and hid in cheneys office somewhere. Shredder companys award cheney: ‘Shredder of the Year!”.


  37. VerbalKint says:

    And Frank, how many barrels of oil a day is Iraq producing?


  38. WaltTheMan says:

    VerbalKint,
    2 million barrels per day.


  39. techsong says:

    They better hurry if that want to save Bush’s legency, which surly this is. I think it’s a bit late to study any more it’s already been done, he’s just looking for better results. Reality is always tough on Bushie boy and the neocon’s.


  40. VerbalKint says:

    VerbalKint,
    2 million barrels per day.

    Comment by WaltTheMan — January 21, 2008 @ 5:44 pm

    Yup, and the Bush plan was for Iraq’s reconstruction to be paid for by oil revenues under the expectation that it would be 8-10 million a day.

    Some success, huh Frank?


  41. Badger says:

    Oil WAS $22 a barrel right after Sept, 11 2001!


  42. VerbalKint says:

    Frank had to go change his pants. Third time today.


  43. Keltoi at Night says:

    Whatever happened to the War Czar, anyway?

    Comment by VerbalKint — January 21, 2008 @ 4:19

    Wow – good question! Maybe someone in the PR department in the WH said “this looks really bad” and he has quietly sat in his cubby ever since.

    Study Group Shmuddy Group. I like Baker a lot, but they can study all they want and it won’t make any difference. Bush will not signifigantly alter the course in Iraq, and the next President is going to have armies of advisors telling them what to do. Maybe President Bloomberg would listen, but that is all I can see coming of this, which is zilch.


  44. WaltTheMan says:

    Frank does not wear pants, he just drops it onto his mom’s basement floor and she hoses it down in the morning. His computer chair is a porta-potti without the basin.


  45. theswan says:

    It can’t get by them twice.


  46. Badger says:

    but they can study all they want and it won’t make any difference.

    The Sunni Shieks offered the same basic deal TWO YEARS AGO. They would help us fight Al Qaeda in Iraq in exchange for cash and amnesty. And they WOULD NOT support Al Malaki’s Green Zone Govt. Bush rejected it.

    Two years later…A desperate Bush and a savy Gen. Petraeus take the Deal. Bush is definitely NOT a Quick study.

    How many car bombs and Ieds went off while Bush got up to speed??


  47. americangoy says:

    Oh I already know their conclusions:
    http://americangoy.blogspot.com/2008/01/counter-insurgency-americangoy-explains.html

    Yes I know shameless.

    But actually topical….so there…


  48. Com_n_sense says:

    Please, go back to Iraq, drive around Baghdad in a convertible, just you guys, a driver – take notes – lots of pictures – show us just how successful the “surge” has been.

    If you come back in anything other than a box – give dip-shit some more suggestions he can ignore or mock. Better yet – take him with you, he seemed to miss Iraq on his last trip. Maybe he thought he was so successful there, there was no need to visit. Let’s just be sure – take him.

    I want to see people throwing … ah, …flowers … at him for “liberating” them. That would be nice. Have him sitting on top of the convertible back-seat so everyone can get a good shot … ah, look at him … yeah, tell the stupid prick it’s a photo-op – he gets to wave another sword around – he’ll go for it …


  49. MiMiCcs says:

    Baker-Shultz rematch. The winner gets to decide foreign policy of the new administration, and who our new President will be (Shultz-McCain, Baker-Obama, Hillary will take orders from either Shultz/Baker so long as they keep Wall Street happy)



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