By its own admission, the Iraq Study Group (ISG) has submitted a "flawed"
report to the president, to Congress and to the American people.
While the report properly calls for the Iraqi government to do more to
reconcile warring factions, take greater control over its defense and defeat
insurgent-terrorists, the ISG falls into a trap set by panel co-chair James
Baker, who has long believed that what the United States and Israel do
determines the behavior of unelected dictators and religious fanatics.
"Given the ability of Iran and Syria to influence events within Iraq and
their interest in avoiding chaos in Iraq," the report says, "the United
States should try to engage them constructively." The ISG must not have
noticed that Iran and Syria are largely responsible for destabilizing
Baghdad. Syria is simultaneously using its Hezbollah proxy to undermine the
elected Lebanese government. What possible reason would Iran and Syria have
to stabilize Iraq so that the United States can leave behind a free nation?
Iran and Syria would see a free Iraq as a threat to their own dictatorial
regimes.
Here's another flaw, straight from the familiar Baker playbook: "The United
States cannot achieve its goals in the Middle East unless it deals directly
with the Arab-Israeli conflict and regional instability." Among other
things, that means "a commitment to a two-state solution for Israel and
Palestine." Leaving aside the historical argument that Israel is Palestine, that approach has been tried (and has
failed) over several administrations. That is because the only formula the
"Palestinian" side will accept is one that obliterates the state of Israel.
There are noble calls for cooperation between Republicans and Democrats and
between the White House and Congress, but the problem is not on our side.
It's on the other side. The ISG failed to deal with the religious
motivations of those who believe their God wants us dead and who have no
qualms about devising weapons of mass destruction to wipe out millions of
us. "Infidel" diplomats are not about to influence dictators and mullahs who
believe their "holy book" commands them to lie to the "cross worshippers"
and "crusaders" in their own crusade for world dominance by force.
Weak European governments, which are busy capitulating to their growing
Muslim populations, won't help us. Neither will Russia and China, which need
oil and don't think much of America. What kind of "diplomacy" will work to
bring them onboard?