A bipartisan approach to Iraq

In the aftermath of dramatic Democratic victories in both Houses of Congress last month, bipartisanship seems to breaking out all over.

First came the Senate confirmation of Robert M. Gates for Secretary of Defense.? The Senate Armed Services Committee gave him a unanimous vote of confidence last Tuesday, followed by a resounding vote of 95-2 for him by the full Senate on Wednesday.?Ironically, the latter vote was overshadowed in the media by the long-awaited and eagerly anticipated Iraq Study Group Report, released the same day.

It, too, was a bipartisan effort by a pride of lions, Republican and Democrat.

The confirmation of Dr. Gates came swiftly on the heels of his candid comments in response to the question ?Are we winning in Iraq’His answer, in a word, was ?No.??He went to say that we?re not losing either, but we need to go in a different direction to achieve our goals there.

The 10-member Iraq Study Group, headed up by the redoubtable Republican former Secretary of State, James Baker, and the equally redoubtable Democratic former longtime member of Congress, Lee Hamilton, issued its findings and recommendations after intensely examining the situation in Iraq for several months.

Describing the situation in Iraq as ?grim,? ?grave? and ?deteriorating,? the Iraq Study Group made 79 recommendations, all designed as a ?way forward? in resolving the plethora of problems, political and military, facing Iraq, the region, and the USA.

Four key recommendations are full of promise and fraught with potential problems.?First, the proposal to initiate a bold new diplomatic offensive that would involve Iran and Syria will be tough for President Bush to accept.?

Second, the proposal to change the U.S. military mission from combat to training Iraqi security forces is already being done, but with difficulty.?

Third, the suggestion to slowly withdraw U.S. troops by 2008, leaving only a residual cadre of trainers and quick-strike reaction forces, may seem too much like a timetable by another name for President Bush to accept.?

Fourth, the idea of putting pressure on the Iraqi government to meet stated?milestones or suffer diminishing U.S. support, flies in the face of the president?s repeated assurances that we will stay in Iraq as long as the Iraqi government wants us there.

Still, President Bush has assured all who will listen that he will carefully consider all the findings and recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, as well those of Dr. Gates, his generals, key leaders of Congress, and foreign leaders whose views he values.

Now it is up to President Bush to translate assurances into demonstrable results.

He seems to savor his role as Commander in Chief. With a new Secretary of Defense and bipartisan advice and consent aplenty, he has a unique opportunity to show how effective he can be as ?Diplomat in Chief? as well.?How he handles that role could determine whether we ?turn the corner? in Iraq, or merely ?circle the block.?

Thomas B. Vaughn is a professor at Motlow College and co-host of the radio show ?Viewpoints,? which airs on WCPI 91.3 FM.