Iraq Study Group, They Came From Where?

The United States Institute for Peace put out a whaddayacallit. I guess it’s a press release. It says: “At the urging of Congress, the United States Institute of Peace is facilitating the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, led by co-chairs James A. Baker, III, former secretary of state and honorary chairman of the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University, and Lee H. Hamilton, former congressman and director of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The Iraq Study Group will conduct a forward-looking, independent assessment of the current and prospective situation on the ground in Iraq, its impact on the surrounding region, and consequences for U.S. interests.” Uh huh. Think Progress says, “A 10-member bipartisan commission that is charged with assessing Bush’s Iraq strategy has reportedly ‘ruled out the prospect for victory'… The commission was established at the instigation of Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA), and was intended to 'devise a fresh set of policies to help the president chart a new course.'" Uh huh. The International Herald Tribune listed the following members of the Iraq Study Group and said, “the bipartisan commission assessing U.S. policy in Iraq met with President George W. Bush and other administration officials on Monday.” James A. Baker III, co-chairman, secretary of state under the first President George Bush and treasury secretary under President Ronald Reagan. Lee Hamilton, co-chairman, former Democratic congressman from Indiana and a leader of the 9/11 commission that studied the 2001 terrorist attacks. Lawrence Eagleberger, secretary of state under the first President Bush and a career diplomat. Vernon Jordan, former adviser to President Bill Clinton, attorney. Edwin Meese III, attorney general under Reagan. Sandra Day O'Connor, former Supreme Court justice. Leon Panetta, chief of staff to Clinton, former Democratic congressman from California. William Perry, secretary of defense under Clinton. Charles Robb, former Democratic senator from Virginia. Alan Simpson, former Republican senator from Wyoming. Uh huh. The New York Times reported that the Prez said he and the Iraq Study Group had “a good discussion,” and that he was “looking forward to interesting ideas.” Other news sources say the Prez is “excited” about working with the ISG. Uh huh. Okay. You know what? In less exalted circles, this would be called AN INTERVENTION. That’s where concerned family members and friends get together with an addicted/nutsoid member of the family and try to talk him/her into going into rehab. Or the nuthouse. Whatever. Of course it’s totally up to the addict/nutcase whether he sees the wisdom of getting clean, sober and/or relatively rational. What are the chances that the Prez will commit himself to a reasoned course re Iraq? Or put another way: What are the chances the Prez will choose to become sane? Right. Slim and None. And as a friend of mine used to say, Slim just left town.