ISG rules out victory in Iraq

Bush's own handpicked Iraq Survey Group is ruling out American victory in Iraq, and advising against democracy.

WASHINGTON — A commission formed to assess the Iraq war and recommend a new course has ruled out the prospect of victory for America, according to draft policy options shared with The New York Sun by commission officials.

Currently, the 10-member commission — headed by a secretary of state for President George H.W. Bush, James Baker — is considering two option papers, "Stability First" and "Redeploy and Contain," both of which rule out any prospect of making Iraq a stable democracy in the near term.

More telling, however, is the ruling out of two options last month. One advocated minor fixes to the current war plan but kept intact the long-term vision of democracy in Iraq with regular elections. The second proposed that coalition forces focus their attacks only on Al Qaeda and not the wider insurgency.

Instead, the commission is headed toward presenting President Bush with two clear policy choices that contradict his rhetoric of establishing democracy in Iraq. The more palatable of the two choices for the White House, "Stability First," argues that the military should focus on stabilizing Baghdad while the American Embassy should work toward political accommodation with insurgents. The goal of nurturing a democracy in Iraq is dropped.

And they're holding this plan until after the election.

How would you like to be the last soldier to die for a Republican majority?

Later: So, the plan is to abandon democracy in Iraq in place of something termed "representative." Sadly, probably the best answer for geoplolitical "stability" although not necessarily for the Iraqi people.

Maybe the "stability option" confirms the story below about Condi Rice's threat to Maliki to install a "National Rescue Government."

I've been thinking alot about the potential "breakup" under the Federalism legislation passed last night, and it's a nightmare scenario. A poverty stricken Sunni west incubating terrorists, a Kurdish north devolving into open war with the Turks, and indirect Iranian control of the combined Iranian/Iraqi oilfields.

So, instead, we're going to replace Saddam with an Iranian influenced Shia strongman sitting right north of the Saudi oil fields.

Tell me again about the freedom. Tell me again about the "shining beacon" that will ripple democracy throughout the middle east. Tell me again how this war has made us safer for generations.