thedrifter
12-06-06, 07:57 AM
Panel: Start Withdrawing From Iraq
By ANNE PLUMMER FLAHERTY
WASHINGTON - A commission on the war in Iraq recommended new and enhanced diplomacy Wednesday so the United States can "begin to move its combat forces" out of the country responsibly.
"The situation in Iraq is grave and deteriorating," the commission warned after an eight-month review of a conflict that has killed more than 2,800 U.S. troops and grown increasingly unpopular at home. The report was obtained by The Associated Press.
The report warned that if the situation continues to deteriorate, there is a risk of a "slide toward chaos (that) could trigger the collapse of Iraq's government and a humanitarian catastrophe."
"Neighboring countries could intervene. ....The global standing of the United States could be diminished. Americans could become more polarized," commissioners said.
President Bush received the report in an early morning meeting at the White House with commission members, and pledged to treat each proposal seriously and act in a "timely fashion." He was flanked by the commission's co-chairmen, former Secretary of State James A. Baker III, and former Rep. Lee Hamilton,
The report painted a grim picture of Iraq more than three years after U.S. forces toppled Saddam Hussein.
"Violence is increasing in scope and lethality," the commission warned. That was a blunt rebuttal of claims of sustained progress that the administration had made until recently.
Bush said he told the 10 commission members that his administration will take their report, called "The Way Forward, "very seriously.
"This report gives a very tough assessment of the situation in Iraq," Bush said. "It is a report that brings some really very interesting proposals, and we will take every proposal seriously and we will act in a timely fashion."
He also urged members of Congress to give the report a hard look.
"While they won't agree with every proposal, and we probably won't agree with every proposal, it nevertheless is an opportunity to come together and to work together on this important issue," Bush said.
A service of the Associated Press(AP)
Ellie
By ANNE PLUMMER FLAHERTY
WASHINGTON - A commission on the war in Iraq recommended new and enhanced diplomacy Wednesday so the United States can "begin to move its combat forces" out of the country responsibly.
"The situation in Iraq is grave and deteriorating," the commission warned after an eight-month review of a conflict that has killed more than 2,800 U.S. troops and grown increasingly unpopular at home. The report was obtained by The Associated Press.
The report warned that if the situation continues to deteriorate, there is a risk of a "slide toward chaos (that) could trigger the collapse of Iraq's government and a humanitarian catastrophe."
"Neighboring countries could intervene. ....The global standing of the United States could be diminished. Americans could become more polarized," commissioners said.
President Bush received the report in an early morning meeting at the White House with commission members, and pledged to treat each proposal seriously and act in a "timely fashion." He was flanked by the commission's co-chairmen, former Secretary of State James A. Baker III, and former Rep. Lee Hamilton,
The report painted a grim picture of Iraq more than three years after U.S. forces toppled Saddam Hussein.
"Violence is increasing in scope and lethality," the commission warned. That was a blunt rebuttal of claims of sustained progress that the administration had made until recently.
Bush said he told the 10 commission members that his administration will take their report, called "The Way Forward, "very seriously.
"This report gives a very tough assessment of the situation in Iraq," Bush said. "It is a report that brings some really very interesting proposals, and we will take every proposal seriously and we will act in a timely fashion."
He also urged members of Congress to give the report a hard look.
"While they won't agree with every proposal, and we probably won't agree with every proposal, it nevertheless is an opportunity to come together and to work together on this important issue," Bush said.
A service of the Associated Press(AP)
Ellie