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December 07, 2006
The Iraq Study Group
I've read the executive summary and some of the rest, and have little to add to what has already been written on National Review Online and by Richard Fernandez of The Belmont Club. Allah's got some good thoughts here.
Basically, I think the report reads about as well as any document written by a committee - clear in some parts, helplessly muddled in others. The weakest part of the report is in the approach to getting Iran and Syria to help us. The ISG lists some possible 'incentives' to get that to happen. I wrote this on ace's blog about each one. Some are better than others:
i. An Iraq that does not disintegrate and destabilize its neighbors and the region.
When have we ever gotten the impression from either of those two countries that they care about a stable Iraq? It's not as though they've been sending aid and comfort to the insurgency in a desire to bring stability to the country. What in the history of Iran, and especially the actions of its president, gives the ISG such faith in their ability to be honest brokers?
ii. The continuing role of the United States in preventing the Taliban from destabilizing Afghanistan.
This one actually makes sense. Iran and Syria both have an interest - ideological - in seeing the Taliban defeated. Sure it's self-serving on their part, but if it works for us, we should try to leverage it.
iii. Accession to international organizations, including the World Trade Organization.
Huh. We won't allow Russia access because of All of Mp3.com, but we'll look past Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's "destroy Israel and the West" rhetoric and his nuclear ambitions and let them right in.
iv. Prospects for enhanced diplomatic relations with the United States.
Again, we'll just look past their rhetoric and beliefs that Israel, a major U.S. ally in the middle east, should be destroyed? We'll also presumably turn the other way at their nuclear ambitions, all in the interest of giving them the questionable reward of diplomatic relations.
v. The prospect of a U.S. policy that emphasizes political and economic reforms instead of (as Iran now perceives it) advocating
regime change.
And as an extra-special bonus, you folks can keep Sharia law! It seems to me the human rights lobby will (or at least should) have trouble giving its blessing to a country that limits religious freedom and executes people under the rules of Islamic Sharia law.
vi. Prospects for a real, complete, and secure peace to be negotiated between Israel and Syria, with U.S. involvement as part of a broader initiative on Arab-Israeli peace as outlined below.
Because we just know Israel will come along after we've tossed them to the lions of Middle East anti-semitism.
Overall, the report is full of good information on the players and the problem, but old ideas on how to bring them together and figure out how to chart a positive future for Iraq and lead them toward a self-sufficient government.
Posted by slublog at December 7, 2006 12:09 AM
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Comments
If we were a nation designed to trust the judgement of committee's then we wouldn't have a president, Congress would be in charge of foreign policy.
committee's and compromise lack leadership, thats why we have a president.
It's also why after the establishment of the legislative process in england, england did not destroy the monarchy.
I mean really, this is just a disgrace in concept, as well as practice.
Posted by: Wickedpinto at December 7, 2006 06:56 AM
Thanks for the posting, I really appreciate it. It was most helpful.
Posted by: Jarvis Tebay at December 12, 2010 12:52 AM