The Iraq Study Group's Recommendations

The Iraq Study Group

TROOP WITHDRAWAL

1. Recommends that the White House announce a plan for American forces to begin pulling back, whether the Iraqis are ready or not, to signal to the Iraqis that Washington will not prop up the Iraqi government with military forces endlessly.

2. Calls for a gradual pullback of the 15 American combat brigades now in Iraq, starting next year and ending by the first quarter of 2008. Afterward, American combat forces could be deployed "only in units embedded with Iraqi forces." While numbers are still approximate, phased withdrawal of combat troops over the next year would leave 70,000 to 80,000 American troops in the country, compared with about 150,000 now, for a long time to come.

3. Special operations forces would remain to battle Al Qaeda in Iraq.

4. Links American withdrawal to the performance of the Iraqi military, leaving open the possibility that American troops would stay longer if the Iraqi government takes on the militias, but threatening accelerated withdrawal if the Iraqi government fails to act decisively and control the violence.

5. The United States should significantly increase the number of military personnel supporting and embedded with Iraqi troops. As this proceeds, United States combat forces can begin leaving Iraq.

6. "The Iraqi government should accelerate assuming responsibility for Iraqi security by increasing the number and quality of Iraqi Army Brigades."

DIPLOMACY

The United States should:

1. Begin a new diplomatic offensive to build an international consensus for stability in Iraq and the region. The effort should include every country that has an interest in avoiding a chaotic Iraq, including all of Iraq’s neighbors.

2. Try to engage Iran and Syria constructively, using incentives and disincentives.

3. Renew commitment to a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace process, including President Bush’s commitment to a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.

Iran should:

1. Stem the flow of arms and training to Iraq.

2. Respect Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

3. Use its influence over Iraqi Shiite groups to encourage national reconciliation

Syria should:

1. Control its border with Iraq to stem the flow of money, insurgents and terrorists in and out of Iraq

International efforts:

1. The issue of Iran’s nuclear arms should be dealt with by the five members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany.

2. A possible regional conference on Iraq or broader Middle East peace issues.

Read the rest at the NY Times

Related Link:
THE FULL REPORT OF THE IRAQ STUDY GROUP at MSNBC (PDF - 160 Pages)