Iraq Study Group

I have just downloaded the Iraq Study Group Report. Needless to say, I haven’t read it yet. I refer you, for the moment, to two commentaries on it.

1) A reality check on the Iraq Study Group report (Christian Science Monitor).

2) Jim Wallis: Iraq Study Group: Another Dose of Reality.

Later

My first reading suggests the Report is a very impressive, well-argued document, which does not entirely support the most vocal critics of US policy in Iraq, but supports even less the current policy and strategy. One immediate conclusion is that the popular view of Al Qaeda as some entity like the baddies in a James Bond movie is far from the reality of Iraq; the complexity of the situation there, and the comparatively small contribution of Al Qaeda to what is going on, is made very clear in the document. On the other hand, the situation is a gift to Al Qaeda propaganda and recruiting. The document also quite rightly puts Israel and Palestine at the centre of things and advocates a more constructive role for Iran and Syria.

Let’s hope the Report is attended to.

I thought Alexander Downer was floundering on The 7.30 Report last night. Did you see it? If not, there is the transcript.