Former Senator Lee Hamilton is co-chair of a committee along with Bush family
consigliere James Baker called The Iraq Study Group. This so-called "bipartisan, independent" commission is charged with getting to the bottom of the problem with the U.S. war in Iraq and offering real solutions to the floundering Bush misadministration. It has already been at work for 6 months.
Lee Hamilton says that the next 3 months are CRITICAL for the survival of the new "unity" government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, BUT THE IRAQ STUDY GROUP WILL NOT RELEASE A REPORT BEFORE NOVEMBER 7TH U.S. MID-TERM ELECTIONS "TO AVOID POLITICIZING THEM".
IF THE NEXT 3 MONTHS ARE CRITICAL FOR IRAQ AS LEE HAMILTON ARGUES IN THE ARTICLE BELOW, IT MAKES NO SENSE FOR HAMILTON TO THEN TURN AROUND AND SAY THAT NO REPORT WILL BE RELEASED UNTIL AFTER THE NOV. 7TH U.S. MIDTERM ELECTIONS "TO AVOID POLITICIZING THE ELECTIONS." HALF OF THAT CRITICAL THREE MONTH PERIOD WILL BE WASTED BETWEEN SEPT 19TH AND NOV 7TH!
Wasn't Lee Hamilton part of the 9-11 Commission? Didn't they delay certain controversial portions of the 9-11 Commision report "not to politicize the 2004 Presidential elections"? This process always seems to work in George W. Bush's favor. Now, American are asked to wait until after November 7th elections to find out just how bad things are in Iraq. I say they are far worse than the average American has been told or is aware.
The U.S. military troops occupying Iraq need to be issued an order to pack their bags and leave Iraq ... to the Iraqis. They should also be reminded not to forget to wave bye as they leave. If we do that, Iraqis will finally cheer us and shower us with the accolades, flowers, and sweets we crave.
Group Says Iraq Needs to Prove Itself
U.S. experts studying what to do next in Iraq said Tuesday that the next three months are critical and Baghdad's government must make more progress toward controlling the violence and rebuilding the nation.
"The Iraqi government must act," said Lee H. Hamilton, co-chair of the independent, bipartisan Iraq Study Group. "The government of Iraq needs to show its own citizens soon - and the citizens of the United States - that it is deserving of continued support."
Hamilton and his co-chair, former Secretary of State James A. Baker III, said Baghdad's government needs to secure a capital reeling in sectarian violence, make progress on national reconciliation, and provide electricity, water, and other services that Iraqis need.
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At a downtown Washington news conference, Hamilton and Baker declined to say what their assessment is of the situation in Iraq now or to indicate anything about their upcoming recommendations. They said recommendations won't be given to the government or made public until after the November election - to avoid politicizing them. They said they would not be more specific about when the findings might be released.
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"Each of us agrees that the next three months are critical," Hamilton said. "The challenges ... are many and they are daunting."