the iraq study group doesn't get it -- bunch of name droppers, ass kissers, blood letters.

[flordehinojos]

america needs to leave iraq NOW in full force... not in 2008!

[Heewack]

1. I think they "get it" far more than most.

This isn't about political or ideological agenda's. It's about what we need to do.

[flordehinojos]

3. what we need to do is we need to leave NOW and let the iraqis take care of their country and their

citizens... not in 2008!

[WinkyDink]

6. I've long stopped caring about or giving credence to Sandy Baby's

opinions on anything.
She MADE the coup d'etat.

[peacebird]

2. why do I see iraq study group and keep hearing a faint echo of "Light at the end of the tunnel..."

[flordehinojos]

5. i, on the other hand, hear iraq study group and think, "o, it's buying time again..."

as in, buying time to buy a "victory?" for the georges.

[Heewack]

10. Having read it, I don't get that sense at all.

It's more about how do we extricate ourselves in a manner which doesn't imperil the whole ME region. They state again and again that their recommendations may fail, but right now other alternatives are worse.

[pinto]

4. fwiw, I think they had a better grip on the situation today than any Administration member to date.

I see your point about immediate, total withdrawal.

The Study Group was up front in discounting that option, as well as the "stay the course" open-ended occupation touted by Bushco.

Most of us here feel differently, but to their credit, there *was* a level of honesty we've not heard from career bureaucrats in a long time.

[Disturbed]

7. How many $ Millions did American Taxpayers pay

for this BULLSHIT?

[pinto]

8. The costs of the Study Group? I don't know. (on edit) Found this in Wikipedia:

Funding and support
The panel's work is being facilitated by the U.S. Institute of Peace and supported by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the Center for the Study of the Presidency (CSP), and the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy. It was expected to receive a US$1.3 million appropriation from Congress.<3>

<snip to footnote>

3. ^ a b Barrett, Ted. "Congress forms panel to study Iraq war", CNN.com, March 15, 2006. Retrieved October 11, 2006.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_Study_Group

[Disturbed]

9. What a waste of $1Million $300,000.

I thought that ex Justice O'Conner retired to take care of her alzheimer husband. I wonder how much she got paid for her 2 cents opinions.

[pinto]

13. I disagree. Think it was worth the cost in that the report comes in a forum

that most Americans will hear about - the nightly news - brings up a couple of issues not previously addressed in that forum - permanent bases, regional diplomacy that includes Iran and Syria, Iraq partition, and control of the country's oil - and pretty clearly labels the situation as a costly failure of American foreign policy (in "blood and treasure" as one member said). Maybe it's ultimate value is as a reality check for the country.

[bobbolink]

12. Right into Baker's pocket.

How..... convenient...

:nuke:

[Heewack]

11. Given our costs so far in this fiasco

I would say it is by far the best money we have spent in a long, long time.