The Iraq Study Group
The Iraq Study Group was made up of ten bipartisan members, led by co-chairs James Baker and Lee Hamilton, best known for being a former Secretary of State and Democratic Congressman, respectively. The ISG was meant to report on the war in Iraq, and to assess its state as of December 6th, 2006, when the report was published. The report was critical, being mandated by Congress and former President George Bush seemed to think that it was crucial, even reading it, which he admitted was unusual for reports in Washington. The report was long and detailed, and stated that “the situation in Iraq is grave and deteriorating”. The Iraq Study Group recommended the Iraqi government work faster, and “increase the number and quality of Iraqi Army brigades” as quickly as was possible, so as to better assume responsibility for their country’s security. The report suggested increasing military personnel, including combat troops, by a significant degree, in the hopes of helping the process of the government along. The ISG’s Report went on to say that while the United States “should eventually end combat operations in Iraq and help in training Iraqi troops” it posits that it (and the members of the ISG, presumably) it does not support a specific date for the removal of combat troops, or even for the troops in general. The reactions to the report were mixed, both positive and negative. While critics of the Bush Administration seemed to appreciate the report, conservatives and other supporters of the war were displeased with the recommendations of the Group, insisting that they were proposing a virtual surrender. The Report was transferred to a portable document format and became available to the public. 35,000 copies were sold during its first week of release, so it would seem that good or bad, people were at least, like their President, reading it.
