Baker Sees Iraq Panel Departing From Bush Strategy

[DoYouEverWonder]

October 8, 2006

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 — James A. Baker III , the Republican co-chairman of a bipartisan commission assessing Iraq strategy for President Bush, said today that he expected the group to depart from Mr. Bush’s call to “stay the course.”

In an interview on the ABC News program “This Week,” Mr. Baker said, “I think it’s fair to say our commission believes that there are alternatives between the stated alternatives, the ones that are out there in the political debate, of ‘stay the course’ and ‘cut and run.’ ”

Mr. Baker, who served Mr. Bush’s father as secretary of state and White House chief of staff, did explicitly reject a rapid withdrawal from Iraq, which he said would only invite Iran, Syria and “even our friends in the gulf” to fill the power vacuum.

While heading the commission, Mr. Baker has been talking to President Bush regularly and is unlikely to issue suggestions that the president has not tacitly approved. The independent panel was requested by Congress. Today, he was asked about statements last week by the Republican chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Senator John W. Warner of Virginia, who said Iraq was “drifting sideways” and urged consideration of a “change of course” if the Iraqi government cannot restore order in two or three months.

Asked if he agreed with that timetable, Mr. Baker said: “Yes, absolutely. And we’re taking a look at other alternatives.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/08/washington/09bakercnd.html?hp&ex=1160366400&en=d190e97c69c4cae0&ei=5094&partner=homepage


Looks like Poppy is sending in Uncle Jimmie to clean up George and Henry's mess in Iraq.

[leftchick]

1. he isn't called "The Fixer" for nothing!

Think of all of the trouble he could have saved us and the world if he had not over seen the FIX of 2000. :grr:

[Kagemusha]

2. If that's what it looks like to George W., this effort is DOA.

Besides, I was under the impression that the current President asked Baker to do this. There was no 'sending'. H.W. Bush doesn't give unsolicited advice that he knows will result in his opinion being listened to even less than it would coming from other human beings.

W. is really showing Dad up, see. Why stop now.

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. Maybe this is why Georgie

had such a big puss on this weekend?

Aside from everything else in his little world falling apart.

[WCGreen]

3. But be perfectly clear that this will benifit the GOP however it

comes about...

Baker is just another POS Bush Politico no matter how much they dress the bastard up....

[babylonsister]

4. I think Baker is setting up the scenario to pluck one of the

'get out of dodge' suggestions that either Murtha, Kerry, or Levin have already floated, and claim it as his/their own.:grr:

At this point, I just want the soldiers out and we can worry about who did what after.

[Disturbed]

6. The Partition won't solve the Iraqi problem

between the various factions. Most of the Govt. will be against it. I don't think it will happen. US Troops and Mercs will stay in Iraq no matter what happens.

[Disturbed]

7. The Oild Fields in Iraq

[babylonsister]

9. No Dem except Biden (I think) has floated the partition theory.

I know Murtha and Kerry think we should just get out ASAP and remain on the periphery, maybe Kuwait or somewhere fairly neutral, and wanted a timeframe.
Levin wanted out with no timeframe, or a fuzzy one.

[Justice Is Comin]

8. Oh Baker,

you mean exactly like the strategy John Murtha gave you TEN months ago when you humiliated him on the House floor? You bastards.

[gulliver]

10. He can shove his "cut and run." He put Bush in office. nt