ISG = "non-starter"

Tomorrow should be a very interesting day. The NYTimes has a description of the ISG's report, some form of partial withdrawal, at least back to bases, and aggressive diplomacy with Iran and Syria, both of which President Bush has spoken out against fairly vigorously in just the past two days.

The bipartisan Iraq Study Group reached a consensus on Wednesday on a final report that will call for a gradual pullback of the 15 American combat brigades now in Iraq but stop short of setting a firm timetable for their withdrawal, according to people familiar with the panel’s deliberations.....

The report recommends that Mr. Bush make it clear that he intends to start the withdrawal relatively soon, and people familiar with the debate over the final language said the implicit message was that the process should begin sometime next year.....

As described by the people involved in the deliberations, the bulk of the report by the Baker-Hamilton group focused on a recommendation that the United States devise a far more aggressive diplomatic initiative in the Middle East than Mr. Bush has been willing to attempt so far, including direct engagement with Iran and Syria.

I don't see a change from this White House, but with the current press mood and the ISG plan now established as "the center," the Bush administration will have to fight for and justify every inch. This report will not be change, but it will serve as a lever of pressure for change.