Analysis: In Iraq, Reaction to Report Runs From Relief to Anger

The Iraq Study Group

BAGHDAD, Dec. 6 — They gathered Wednesday evening inside an office in the fortified Green Zone, the Iraqi prime minister and a handful of senior officials, awaiting word of the report that could shape American policy toward their embattled country.

The video screen sprang to life. There was the silver-haired James A. Baker III, a former secretary of state and one of the report’s main authors. He stared Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki in the eyes.

Mr. Baker wanted to lay out the basics of the report for Mr. Maliki before his news conference in Washington. So with his slight Texas drawl, Mr. Baker listed three conclusions that the Iraq Study Group had arrived at: the United States should continue to support the Iraqi government, the Iraqis should engage in high-level diplomacy with neighboring countries, and the 140,000 American troops here should switch from a combat mission to a support role while drawing down significantly.

A look of relief seemed to pass over Mr. Maliki’s face, said Sami al-Askari, a conservative Shiite legislator who was in the room.

“If the report is written in that way, it’s good,” Mr. Maliki said a little later, according to Mr. Askari. “But let’s wait to read all the details of the report.”

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