Now that I've read it

A few weeks ago in one of my columns I made fun of the people who were members of the Iraq Study Group. My teasing was aimed at the age of the participants and was done on the day they released their report.

I have now read their report and before I go on, I'd like to ask a couple of small questions.

WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE UNITED STATES POPULATION WILL ACTUALLY READ THIS REPORT?

I love asking these type of questions because the answers vary so much that one begins to question whether anybody has a clue.....to anything!

What's your quess?

My other question is.....do you think George W. Bush has read this report?

After reading the report I'm not totally convinced that anyone connected with the White House...has read the report. Maybe it's on their spring reading list.

A FEW CHOICE EXCERPTS FROM
Iraq Study Group report.

In this report, we make a number of recommendations for actions to be taken in Iraq, the
United States, and the region. Our most important recommendations call for new and enhanced diplomatic and political efforts in Iraq and the region, and a change in the primary mission of U.S. forces in Iraq that will enable the United States to begin to move its combat forces out of Iraq responsibly.


The challenges in Iraq are complex. Violence is increasing in scope and lethality. It is fed
by a Sunni Arab insurgency, Shiite militias and death squads, al Qaeda, and widespread
criminality. Sectarian conflict is the principal challenge to stability. The Iraqi people have a
democratically elected government, yet it is not adequately advancing national reconciliation, providing basic security, or delivering essential services. Pessimism is pervasive.

The United States cannot achieve its goals in the Middle East unless it deals directly with the Arab-Israeli conflict and regional instability. There must be a renewed and sustained commitment by the United States to a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace on all fronts: Lebanon, Syria, and President Bush’s June 2002 commitment to a o-state solution for Israel and Palestine. This commitment must include direct talks with, by, and between Israel, Lebanon, Palestinians (those who accept Israel’s right to exist), and Syria.

The United States must not make an open-ended commitment to keep large numbers of American troops deployed in Iraq.



The report can be downloaded for free and techically speaking, it is not a hard read. There are no math problems and no science references....just as there is no poetry nor songs to accompany the extensive script that has been formulated.

WHAT THERE DOES SEEM TO BE.....IS.....

AN EXACT OPPOSITE OPINION TO POLICY BEING ESTABLISHED BY THE CURRENT ADMINSTRATION.

Sunday night 60 minutes presented GW for 20 minutes of one on one. During the story there was a reference to a book that George was reading. A book that was given to him by HENRY KISSINGER.

THIS IS NOT FUNNY

What was the point of having a bi-partisan STUDY GROUP if nothing was going to be heard?

One of those perfect Presidential examples of.....

"Find out everything that proves me right! If you disagree with me...we'll just ignore your Study Group and pretend it didn't even happen. My Dad had some experience in the CIA and he taught me how to orchestrate mass ignorance."

THIS ISN'T FUNNY!

BUT IT IS IRONIC AND I suppose IRONIC CAN BE FUNNY IF THE PERSON DELIVERING THE BIT....IS A FUNNY GUY.

The problem seems to be that our President might be a funny guy who just can't figure out how to deliever the bit.

I sure realize one important thing.....

HE'S NOT USING THE WRITERS THAT WERE HIRED BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO HELP HIM.....DELIEVER THE BIT.

THE IRAQ STUDY GROUP IS BEING DISMISSED AS
WRONG IN THEIR EVALUATION....

Read the report and discover for yourself what it says.

Maybe you are one of those special people who don't want to learn something that disagrees with your opinion?

WELCOME TO THE GEORGE W. BUSH WORLD OF POLICY MAKING

Michael Timothy McAlevey