US panel calls for 'new approach' on Iraq

An advisory panel to the United States government called last week for a complete overhaul of the country's Iraq policy, recommending among other steps an international peace conference bringing together Israel, Lebanon, Syria and the Palestinians; talks with Tehran and Damascus and a major withdrawal by early 2008.

The Iraq Study Group also urged the administration of President George W. Bush to reduce its political, military or economic support if Iraq's government fails to advance security and reconciliation in the country. "It is time to find a new way forward, a new approach," said James Baker, co-chair of the bipartisan group, but the former secretary of state warned there was no "magic formula" to end Iraq's torment.

If Iraq continues to decline, its government could collapse and ignite a "humanitarian catastrophe" prompting neighbouring countries to intervene and hand a propaganda victory to Al-Qaeda, the 160-page report warned. "The current approach is not working and the ability of the United States to influence events is diminishing," said Lee Hamilton, the other co-chair. Bush pledged to take the study "very seriously" without giving any guarantees. "This report gives a very tough assessment of the situation in Iraq," Bush said, after the group handed him the report at the White House.

The study warned "the situation in Iraq is grave and deteriorating." The ten-member commission called for "extensive and substantive" talks with Iran and Syria by the end of the year. "Given the ability of Iran and Syria to influence events within Iraq and their interest in avoiding chaos in Iraq, the United States should try to engage them constructively," said the report. "In seeking to influence the behaviour of both countries, the United States has disincentives and incentives available," it said.

The bipartisan panel insisted on the need for Washington to "engage directly" with the two foes and not via intermediaries.

And it suggested the government in Tehran will see moves to end the slide towards sectarian civil war in Iraq as in its own interests, since the conflict could spill into Iran, which has large Kurdish and Arab minorities.

"Iran should stem the flow of arms and training to Iraq, respect Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and use its influence over Iraqi Shiite groups to encourage national reconciliation," the report said.

The group said Bush should make resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict a cornerstone of his new approach to the crisis in Iraq. "Iraq cannot be addressed effectively in isolation from other major regional issues, interests and unresolved conflicts."

"This commitment must include direct talks with, by and between Israel, Lebanon, Palestinians - those who accept Israel's right to exist - and Syria," the report said.

"This effort would strongly support moderate Arab governments in the region, especially the democratically elected government of Lebanon, and the Palestinian Authority under President Mahmoud Abbas.

"The United States does its ally Israel no favours in avoiding direct involvement to solve the Arab-Israeli conflict," the report said, in an thinly veiled jab at Bush's reluctance to press Israel for concessions.

The Iraqi government welcomed the recommendations, saying its proposals that Iraqis should take the lead on security were similar to their own.

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki was briefed by video link by former Baker and other members of the Study Group just before they presented their report in Washington.

"The report is in line with the Iraqi government's view that the security must be transferred to Iraqis and Iraq must assume the lead," Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh told Reuters.

For his part, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also welcomed the report.

"Resolving the Palestinian problem will open the way toward resolving all of the problems in the Middle East," Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina told AFP.

Hamas echoed the sentiment. "It is important that it [the report] is used toward resolving the Palestinian questions as we are suffering from the Bush administration's support of the Zionist entity," a spokesman said.

AFP