'Has Beens' on Center Stage

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6, 2006 — -- After delivering its long-awaited report to President Bush, the Iraq Study Group took its 79 recommendations to congressional leaders this morning.

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said he felt vindicated by the report, and that he believed the report would result in the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.

Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell said, "This is an opportunity for us to work in a bipartisan way with Democrats and the White House."

At the White House, Bush said, "We will take every proposal seriously, and we will act in a timely fashion. We probably won't agree with every proposal."

Bush refused to take questions from reporters. That was left this afternoon to Press Secretary Tony Snow who said he would not "give the president's evaluation of any of the 79 recommendations."

Later, as he quoted from the report Lee Hamilton, the panel's co-chairman, told reporters on Capitol Hill that "the situation in Iraq is grave and deteriorating." But, he added, "in our view not all options have been exhausted."

Hamilton noted that the report sends a sharp warning to the Baghdad government: "If the Iraqi government does not make substantial progress toward the achievement of milestones, the United States should then reduce its political, military or economic support to the Iraqi government."

Hamilton, a former Democratic congressman, focused on military options, saying "the primary mission of U.S. forces in Iraq should evolve to one of supporting the Iraqi army, which would take over primary responsibility for combat operations. As this transition proceeds, the United States should increase the number of troops embedded in and supporting the Iraqi army. And U.S. combat forces could begin to move out of Iraq."

Hamilton said that barring unexpected developments such as Iraq descending into anarchy, "by the first quarter of 2008, all U.S. combat brigades not necessary for force protection could be out of Iraq."

Hamilton's counterpart, former Secretary of State James Baker, emphasized the need for diplomatic initiatives in the Mideast, for regional talks with Iraq's neighbors and a new try at resolving the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. Baker said there should be an international Iraq support group that includes Iran and Syria. That could be a difficult option for Bush to accept. So far, he has rejected unconditional talks with both countries.

At his afternoon briefing, Press Secretary Snow rejected one-on-one talks with Iran unless it suspends uranium enrichment. But Snow appeared to leave open the possibility of an international conference involving Iran and other regional powers.