The best anti-George Bush (43) tee-shirt I've purchased recently is one that has a picture of Mr. Clueless with a question mark over his head and the caption "Manifest Density."

Nowhere is that thought more prevalent and purposeful, prescient even, then in describing the Bush administration's failures in Iraq, many of which could have been avoided… if this country was run by adults.

No WMDs. No involvement in 9/11. No haven for Al-Qaeda. Saddam Hussein was an impotent despot for the most part, except to his own people, of course. Six years later, he's now been made a martyr thanks to the Bush administration.

It is difficult, neigh, impossible, to read The Iraq Study Group Report (ISGR): The Way Forward–a New Approach: (Vintage Books, 2006) by James A. Baker, III, and Lee H. Hamilton (co-chairs of the ISG) along with eight other Washington insiders and not get angry.

Perhaps not fire and brimstone, kill the T.V., and "f-em all" angry, but angry nonetheless. It is a sad anger, an anger of despair and an anger of recognition that the failures in Iraq will not matter to anyone inside the Whitehouse and its bubble world of sycophants, true believers, and the "we build our own reality" staffers.

But it should matter to the rest of us and if the results of the 2006 elections are to believed the rest of the country has finally awakened to what many have thought all along: this administration is incompetent, arrogant, greedy, and criminal. Not to mention delusional.

[Aside 1. Have you noticed that Bush is looking more and more detached from reality (as if it was possible)? Remember the Drakes' Coffee Cake ads from years ago that depicted Napoleon with a coffee cake hidden in his vestments? Bush probably has a coffee cake in there somewhere ... maybe Cheney keeps them as a reward for being a "good boy."]

[Aside 2. Nixon looked decidedly constipated towards the end of the Watergate investigations that took down his presidency, just before he resigned and flew off in that helicopter to retirement and exile. Bush looks like he could use a bowl of Colon Blow himself. I'm just saying.]

Immediately after the ISGR came out in early December 2006, Bush adopted the lingo of "a new way forward," said he needed more time, and then disappeared. He reemerged to say that he was working hard on his Iraq plan (3 hours on a weekend morning) and then told everybody to go shopping.

As time has passed it has become more apparent that Bush is not planning on reading the report unless there is a concise comic book version coming. He, instead, will now send more troops to Iraq and leave a mess for the next president to deal with unless Congress seriously shows some testicular and ovarian fortitude and takes him and the Cheney cabal down for good. ITMFA. President Pelosi has a nice ring to it.

Now for those keeping score at home, the ISGR is not the white-wash that many suspected it would be. The fact that it has been so thoroughly ignored by the Bush administration indicates that the realism in the report did not meet with the bubble people's expectations and hopes that it would go away. According to the recent State of the union address, there are more important things than Iraq for this administration to do, such as (a) dismantling the employer-based insurance system, (b) finding ways to justify not raising the minimum wage, and (c) finding the right intelligence to justify (perhaps) invading Iran.

The ISG was created by Congress to review the conditions on the ground in Iraq and propose strategies for reaching a just resolution, i.e., the way forward. Even with its use of political and diplomatic bromides, inside Washington speak, and a lack of explicitness, the report contains a wealth of common-sense recommendations and viewpoints.

"There is no magic formula to solve the problems of Iraq. However, there are actions that can be taken to improve the situation and protect American interests.

Many Americans are dissatisfied, not just with the situation in Iraq but with the state of our political debate regarding Iraq. Our political leaders must build a bipartisan approach to bring a responsible conclusion to what is now a lengthy and costly war. Our country deserves s debate that prizes substance over rhetoric, and a policy that is adequately funded and sustainable. The President and Congress must work together. Our leaders must be candid and forthright with the American people in order to win their support." [page ix]

So far, so good. Seems like a realistic, adult-like summation of current attitudes and beliefs (reality).

Cheney: "Hogwash."
Bush: "My position on Iraq is the same as Joe Lieberman." [Way to go Connecticut voters.]

"The situation in Iraq is grave and deteriorating. There is no path that can guarantee success, but the prospects can be improved."[page xiii]

Bush: "More adult talk. Make them stop Cheney."

"There is no guarantee for success in Iraq. The situation in Baghdad and several provinces is dire. Saddam Hussein has been removed from power and the Iraqi people have a democratically elected government that is broadly representative of Iraqi's population, yet the government is not advancing national reconciliation, providing basic security, or delivering essential services. The level of violence is high and growing. There is great suffering, and the daily lives of many Iraqis show little or no improvement. Pessimism is pervasive." [page 1]

Bush: "Sounds like New Orleans."
Cheney: "Good one."

"The United States has made a massive commitment to the future of Iraq in both blood ands treasure. As of December 2006, nearly 2,900 Americans have lost their lives serving in Iraq. Another 21,000 Americans have been wounded, many severely.

To date, the United States has spent roughly $400 billion on the Iraq War, and costs are running about $8 billion per month. In addition, the United States must expect significant 'tail costs' to come. Caring for veterans and replacing lost equipment will run into the hundreds of billions of dollars. Estimates run as high as $2 trillion for the final cost of the U.S. involvement in Iraq.

Despite a massive effort, stability in Iraq remains elusive and the situation is deteriorating. The Iraqi government cannot now govern, sustain, and defend itself without the support of the United States. Iraqis have not been convinced that they must take responsibility for their own future. Iraq's neighbors and much of the international community have not been persuaded to play an active and constructive role in supporting Iraq. The ability of the United States to shape outcomes is diminishing. Time is running out." [page 32]

Bush: "Dick, make them stop."
Cheney. "Bunch of pansies. We should cut taxes to the wealthy and corporations again, like me and Halliburton."

"The following are some of the more notable possibilities that we have considered.

1. Precipitate Withdrawal
2. Staying the Course
3. More Troops for Iraq.
4. Devolution into Three Regions." [pages 37-40]

Bush/Cheney: "Door Three. Surge, Surge, Surge!"

The Way Forward–A New Approach

"Progress in Iraq is still possible if new approaches are taken promptly by Iraq, the United States, and other countries that have a stake in the Middle East." [page 41]

The ISGR makes a number of recommendations (18 in fact, discussed in pages 41-58) on moving forward in Iraq on an External Basis. These recommendations revolve around 4 items of note:

1. A new diplomatic offensive. We must involve other countries in seeking solutions in Iraq. It cannot be done in isolation.
2. Formation of the Iraq International Support group. We need all the help we can get, especially from other countries in the region.
3. Dealing with Iran and Syria. If Nixon could talk to China and Reagan could talk to the Soviet Union, Bush better get off his duff and talk to these two. Condi can go shoe shopping on breaks.
4a. The Wider Regional Context. "Hello Israel, come on down to the Price for Peace is Right."
4b. Afghanistan. "Remember the Taliban, Mr. President. Does Osama Bin Laden ring a bell?"

"The most important issues facing Iraq’s future are now the responsibility of Iraq’s elected leaders…Only the government and people of Iraq can make and sustain certain decisions critical to Iraq’s future." [page 59]

Conversely, The ISGR makes a number of recommendations (61 in fact, discussed in pages 59-96) on moving forward in Iraq on an Internal Basis. These recommendations revolve around 9 items of note:

1. Performance on Milestones. No Iraqi Left Behind, includes standardized testing but no funding.
2. National Reconciliation. It’s much more than a "can’t we all just get along" situation.
3. Security and Military Forces. The U.S. cannot sustain our troops there forever. End of story. The Iraqis have to get it together. Our troops need a break and a big thank you. We have to redeploy where our troops can do the most good (quick strike reaction forces, and going after OBL and the Taliban elsewhere).
4. Police and Criminal Justice. The Iraqis have to secure their borders, and build a representative and cohesive police and criminal justice system, including the courts.
5. The Oil Sector. The ability of Iraq to provide for itself is through its oil reserves which must be shared fairly and this area of their economy is integral to its future.
6. U.S. Economic and Reconstruction Assistance. The place has got to be rebuilt and we can’t become "refugees are us."
7. Budget Preparation, Presentation, and Review. How much is this going to cost? China has money, so we’re told.
8. U.S. Personnel. We need to get the right people there to help.

"Our embassy of 1,000 has 33 Arabic speakers, just six of whom are at the level of fluency." [page 92]

9. Intelligence. We don’t have a lot of it.

"…our government still does not understand very well either the insurgency in Iraq or the role of the militias." [pages 93-94]

We do have some good misinformation though:

"In addition, there is significant underreporting of the violence in Iraq. The standard for recording attacks acts as a filter to keep events out of reports and databases. A murder of an Iraqi is not necessarily counted as an attack. If we cannot determine the source of a sectarian attack, that assault does not make it into the database. A roadside bomb or a rocket or mortar attack that doesn't hurt U.S. personnel doesn’t count. For example, on one day in July 2006 there were 93 attacks or significant acts of violence reported. Yet a careful review of the reports for that single day brought to light 1,000 acts of violence. Good policy is difficult to make when information is systematically collected in a way that minimizes its discrepancy with policy goals." [pages 94-95]

Bush: "I never liked that Baker guy."
Cheney: "He’s an A-hole."
Bush: "Big time."

The Iraq Study Group Report [142 pages, with appendices] should be required reading for all Americans, if only to understand what this ill-conceived, illogical, and illusory quest has cost us. Bush ran in the 2000 election season by making a point that he was not a "nation builder." He’s proven that to be true time and time again.

Part of my interest in reading the report is the composition of the group and the context behind its formation. A Congress that has rubberstamped an out-of-control administration is forced to call in the adults — experienced Washington insiders, ones that Bush will be loathe to take advice from, in order to look like some kind of progress is being made. There's no doubt in my mind that most people thought the ISG would find some way to clean up the mess without mentioning the Bush unmentionables, such as incompetence, no strategic plan, no plan period. But they've actually delivered a needed dose of reality here.

The Iraq Study Group includes: co-chairs James A. Baker III, a former Secretary of State under George Bush (41), as well as chief of staff under Reagan; Lee H. Hamilton, a Congressman for 34 years with experience in intelligence and foreign affairs; along with Lawrence S. Eagleburger, a former Secretary of State; Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., an influential advisor to the Clinton White House; Edwin Meese, III, a former Attorney General under Reagan; Sandra Day O'Connor, former Supreme Court Justice; Leon E. Panetta, Congressman, budget expert, and former Clinton Chief of Staff; William J. Perry, a former Defense Secretary; Charles S. Robb, former Senator from Virginia; and Alan K. Simpson; former Senator from Wyoming known for his folksy manner and sharp conservative mind.

Six members have some military experience. Baker is a longtime "fixer" for the Bush family and was instrumental in sealing Bush’s disputed victory in 2000. O'Connor voted in the majority on a 5-4 decision to stop the Florida recounts, thus giving Bush the presidency.

The Group members also represent a viewpoint on world affairs; an adult one that recognizes reality for what it is and does not try to shape it. They are realists They look at what's true and deal with the hand they've been dealt.

Some of them also represent a different brand of republicanism than the one practiced by the Bush administration. It is this facet that makes the book worth reading on a certain level. These are some of the most experienced voices in Washington, past and present, yet this administration has elected to go it alone on many issues.

We should call Iraq what it is without use of euphemisms like "making progress everyday." It's a fiasco, a snafu, and a clusterf*** of mythical proportions. The report makes that clear on page after page. The Bush administration (Bush and Cheney, along with Rumsfeld and Rice, and the neocons) have fubared Iraq.

The ISG talked to most of the players (administration officials, Iraqi officials, foreign service staffers, Congressmen and women, Senators, foreign policy experts, reconstruction experts, intelligence types, policy wonks, and many members and leaders of the armed services). Surprisingly, they did not speak to the grunts in the sandbox that is Iraq. If so, I know of two in my own family who have stories to share.

I find it interesting that the report comes down strongly in favor of speaking to our enemies, especially in the wake of revelations that Iran (in 2003), prior to rise to power of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, sought to open back-channel diplomatic contact with the U.S.; an overture that was dismissed by Cheney with a "we don't talk to evil" response.

The one recommendation in the report that I take issue with, strongly, is the idea of embedding U.S. troops in small numbers with Iraqi forces. This could be disastrous, especially since the Iraqi troops are not to be trusted as to their loyalties and their discipline is a long-standing issue. Our troops would be at grave risk if such a plan is adopted. It is part of Bush's surge plan according to some reports.

The ISG report is necessary, but also somewhat out-of-date already. Conditions on the ground have gotten worse since its release. U.S. casualties are now over the 3,000 mark, the war has now lasted longer than World War II, and Congress may actually do something to rein in the extremes of the Bush administration. A coup in the U.S. is still unlikely, however.

The ISG does not come right out and say that Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld/Rice are incompetent and not credible any longer. That's not their style, but they don't have to anyway. The report speaks for itself just by existing.

The realism reflected in the ISG report: the recitation of facts on the ground is devastating to the stories and rationales we've been fed by the media over the last few years. It may not go as far as Senator Russ Feingold and others would like (call for impeachment), but it's a start. Call it the reality-based adults strike back if just for a little while (three stars).

Sources
www.usip.org/isg/

Recommended: Yes