Bush confidant prepares way for radical shift by US on Iraq (UK Guardian)

[stevedeshazer]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,1924928,00.html

· Talks with Iran and Syria seen as way to end chaos
· Report leaked before crucial November polls

Julian Borger in Washington
Wednesday October 18, 2006
The Guardian

A radical change in US policy over Iraq after the November elections appeared increasingly likely yesterday after reports that a bipartisan commission headed by a Bush family confidant will recommend an approach to Iran and Syria for help or a withdrawal to bases outside Iraq.

The Iraq Study Group is chaired by James Baker, who was the first President Bush's secretary of state. It is not due to deliver its findings until after the congressional elections on November 7 because of their potentially explosive political impact, but the panel's proceedings have been leaked to the press.

In recent interviews, Mr Baker said the group has taken no firm decisions but made it clear that the current US strategy was no longer an option. "There'll probably be some things in our report that the administration might not like," Mr Baker predicted in a TV interview. He said: "Our commission believes there are alternatives between the stated alternatives, the ones that are out there in the political debate of 'stay the course' and 'cut and run'."

He made it clear he believed there should be approaches to Iraq's neighbours, including those the White House has accused of fomenting the insurgency. "I believe in talking to your enemies," he said. "Neither the Syrians nor the Iranians want a chaotic Iraq ... so maybe there is some potential for getting something other than opposition from those countries."

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Is Poppy taking away the kid's license? :wow:

Ever wonder who REALLY runs things?

[grytpype]

1. He'll never go along with it.

Bush will have to be removed from office before we would withdraw from Iraq or even worse, beg Syria and Iran for help.

Baker is just saying what he would do if he were Secretary of State. But he's not. He's just a meddler, and that's the way Junior sees him.

[frogcycle]

2. nope

never have.
I don't know that its poppy himself, but poppy and baker are plugged in to THE MACHINE that really runs things

[peacebird]

3. Wouldn't that mean Iran isn't part of the axis of evil anymore?

I mean if we have to ask Iran to help out in Iraq, maybe it would be helpful if we were actually to be SPEAKING to them first?

:eyes:

sounds like Baker is trying to fix Iraq and pre-empt Iran.... and not for any altruistic reason either. Maybe poppy and his friends HAVE decided to try to reign in the "deciders" power? Good luck with THAT one... LOL! They made him emperor - methinks he won't give up the throne without a battle.

[Supersedeas]

4. shhhhhh, not to be spoken of....UNTIL....AFTER the elections

[progressivebydesign]

13. Oh god. Like that "super secret" plan in Oregon to save the schools?

I remember the election a few years back in Oregon. The voters were voting on just destroying public funding for the schools and all types of public services. The repubs in Oregon "leaked" a super secret plan to allow all of the cut services to be restored without raising taxes. Of course, it was total bullshit. Once the money was cut, nothing was saved.. there was no plan.

This is another October surprise, meant ONLY to appease those that would vote for repubs but are queasy about Iraq. They are so transparent.

[goforit]

5. Their plan has flopped totally. The junta has lost. They are on the same

planet just like all of us.
And if they like it or not ONE nuclear bomb will kill all of humanity eventually.
Their off spring will breath the same radiation as those whom have been bombed.

Their hard ass games they've been playing will ultimately kick themselves in the ass.

Even Baker has come to this realization.
The question is....Can Baker get through to the thick skull of Cheney.

[underpants]

6. 'Syrianan' Dean Whiting = James Baker

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0365737/

Baker is just making sure that his clients still get the oil they need and that he stays as the go between.

[ItNerd4life]

7. Bush talk with Iran and Syria? Prepare for more war

Bush isn't capable of talking with people, he bully's them.

His talking will be "Help us with Iraq or we will attack you."

[BooScout]

8. Here's the latest....

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1924581,00.html

America has finally taken on the grim reality of Iraq

The US is radically rethinking its exit strategy, while Britain waits zombie-like for new instructions

Simon Jenkins
Wednesday October 18, 2006
The Guardian


The Baker report on an exit strategy from Iraq, leaked this week in the US, is as sensible as it is sensational. It rejects "staying the course" as no longer plausible and purports to seek alternatives to just "cutting and running". Stripped of political sweetening, it concludes that there is none. America must leave Iraq without preconditions and hope that its neighbours, hated Syria and Iran, can clear up the mess. This advice comes not from some anti-war coalition but from the Iraq study group under the former Republican secretary of state, James Baker, set up by Congress with President George Bush's endorsement. Students of Iraq studies should at this point sit down and steady their nerves. Kissinger is in Paris. The Vietnam moment is at hand.

(more)

[calimary]

10. I'm just glad this is getting some notice. BEFORE the elections.

NOT held in the darkness, under wraps, til after the elections when it won't make any difference (and bush will just ignore it, anyway). I'd love to see rummy tell the nation that james "The Fixer" baker is ill-informed and doesn't understand, and is risking being an appeaser to the terr'ists.

It's a wash, anyway. junior insists he's correct and that God has personally anointed him to do this. And there are enough suckers out there who'll buy anything you sell if you talk the "Jesus-talk" often enough during your sales pitch.

[KansDem]

9. If James Baker is involved, I seriously doubt this is "bipartisan"

...a bipartisan commission headed by a Bush family confidant...

Will Poppy put Jr. in timeout?

[progressivebydesign]

12. You're right. Baker is the Bush's "clean-up man".

They'd like the uneducated to believe he's just a kindly old ex-official, when he and his law firm are knee deep in EVERYTHING from the stolen election in 2000, to Rathergate to Swift Boaters. Connect the dots and you'll find kindly old Mr. Baker's fingers in everything.

[progressivebydesign]

11. Baker is part of the shadow government.

No shock he's part of the October surprise. That man has his fingers in EVERYTHING. He's not someone to be trifled with.