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US panel to release Iraq review Report 'urges Iraq policy shift'
(about 3 hours later)
An American cross-party group charged with reviewing policy on Iraq is due to issue its long-awaited report. A report on US policy in Iraq is to urge negotiations with Iran and Syria over the future of their neighbour, according to leaked excerpts.
The Iraq Study Group (ISG) recommendations are widely expected to include a gradual phased withdrawal of US troops over the next 18 months. US broadcaster ABC says the Iraq Study Group (ISG) will also recommend troops move from combat to support roles, with all combat troops gone by early 2008.
According to leaked extracts from ABC news, it also proposes discussing Iraq with Syria and Iran, with whom the US has refused to negotiate directly. But the bipartisan report stops short of a firm timetable for troop withdrawal, ABC says.
On Tuesday, the defence chief designate said the US was not winning in Iraq.On Tuesday, the defence chief designate said the US was not winning in Iraq.
Former ISG member Robert Gates told a confirmation hearing he was open to new ideas on Iraq, but warned the situation there would shape the Middle East for years to come.Former ISG member Robert Gates told a confirmation hearing he was open to new ideas on Iraq, but warned the situation there would shape the Middle East for years to come.
On Tuesday, the Senate Armed Services Committee recommended Mr Gates be confirmed as successor to Donald Rumsfeld. On Wednesday, the full Senate is to debate his nomination and is widely expected to endorse him. On Wednesday, the full Senate is to debate his nomination and is widely expected to endorse him.
'Diplomatic offensive'
According to ABC News, the ISG makes 79 recommendations in its long-awaited 142-page report.
The leaked extracts confirm what many expected, says the BBC's James Westhead in Washington.
LEAKED RECOMMENDATIONS US must not make open-ended commitments to keeping large numbers of troops in IraqPrimary mission of US forces should evolve to one of supporting Iraqi armyAll combat troops could leave Iraq by the first quarter of 2008 Source: ABC News Excerpts: Leaked ISG report
The Iraq Study Group (ISG) recommendations had been widely predicted to include a gradual phased withdrawal of US troops over the next 18 months.
According to the leaks, the report will back a reduction of US troops in Iraq - perhaps halving them from the current strength of 140,000 - as well as changing the nature of their engagement - from a combat to a back-up role.
"The primary mission of US forces should evolve to one of supporting the Iraqi army," ABC News quotes the report as saying.
The report suggests there should be an initial increase in the number of US troops dedicated to supporting Iraqi troops, ABC says, but does not specify whether this will mean an increase in overall US troop numbers before they start falling.
HAVE YOUR SAY The damage has already been done and now ordinary Iraqis have to live with the mess Daniel, London Send us your comments The ISG had also been expected to propose discussing Iraq with its "axis-of-evil" neighbours, Syria and Iran, with whom the US has refused to negotiate directly.
According to ABC, the report calls for "a new diplomatic offensive to build stability in Iraq", including direct talks with Iran and Syria - something US President George W Bush has opposed.
The report ends with a plea for a broad political consensus, our correspondent says, predicting that without it US foreign policy is doomed to failure.
'Regional engagement''Regional engagement'
US President George W Bush has indicated he will look closely at, but not necessarily follow, the suggestions of the group headed by former US Secretary of State James Baker. Mr Bush has indicated he will look closely at, but not necessarily follow, the suggestions of the group headed by former US Secretary of State James Baker.
Q&A: Iraq Study Group US readers discuss Iraq Iraq violence, in figuresQ&A: Iraq Study Group US readers discuss Iraq Iraq violence, in figures
The 10-member panel of influential former policy-makers and practitioners of international affairs has been working since April to come up with recommendations.The 10-member panel of influential former policy-makers and practitioners of international affairs has been working since April to come up with recommendations.
According to media leaks, the report will back a reduction of US troops in Iraq - perhaps halving them from the current strength of 140,000 - as well as changing the nature of their engagement - from a combat to a back-up role.
"The primary mission of US forces should evolve to one of supporting the Iraqi army," ABC News quoted the report as saying.
The group is also said to argue that a date ought to be specified for this - something Mr Bush has consistently discarded as being more of an incentive to terrorists than to the Iraqi administration.
Equally controversial is the idea that the US needs to engage with "axis-of-evil" Iraqi neighbours Iran and Syria to enlist their support for ending the insurgency.
The ISG has met or spoken to more than 170 individuals, including Iraq's leaders, President Bush, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, ambassadors and other senior officials from among Iraq's neighbours and the US.The ISG has met or spoken to more than 170 individuals, including Iraq's leaders, President Bush, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, ambassadors and other senior officials from among Iraq's neighbours and the US.
Hundreds of others have fed their suggestions to the four working groups who have written analytical papers for the panel's benefit.Hundreds of others have fed their suggestions to the four working groups who have written analytical papers for the panel's benefit.
Mr Blair arrives in Washington on Wednesday for a visit which will include meetings with President Bush and congressional leaders.Mr Blair arrives in Washington on Wednesday for a visit which will include meetings with President Bush and congressional leaders.
'Regional conflagration''Regional conflagration'
On Tuesday Mr Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee that all options remained on the table for Iraq. In a confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Mr Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee that all options remained on the table for Iraq.
Nominee offers frankness Profile: Robert Gates Excerpts: Senate hearing Nominee offers frankness Profile: Robert Gates Excerpts: Senate hearing He agreed with the panel that the situation was unacceptable and said he would introduce a change of tactics, if confirmed.
He agreed with the panel that the situation was unacceptable and said he would introduce a change of tactics, if confirmed. Mr Gates said he would do his utmost to avoid chaos in Iraq, saying US policy over the next year or two would determine whether the US and Iraq faced an improved situation or "the very real risk and possible reality of a regional conflagration".
Mr Gates said he would do his utmost to avoid chaos in Iraq.
"Our course over the next year or two will determine whether the American and Iraqi people and the next president of the US will face a slowly but steadily improving situation in Iraq or... the very real risk and possible reality of a regional conflagration," he said.
Asked by the next chairman of the panel, Democratic Senator Carl Levin, if he believed the US was winning, Mr Gates replied: "No, Sir."Asked by the next chairman of the panel, Democratic Senator Carl Levin, if he believed the US was winning, Mr Gates replied: "No, Sir."
He later said he believed the US was neither winning nor losing, "at this point".He later said he believed the US was neither winning nor losing, "at this point".
Democratic senators are thought unlikely to oppose Mr Gates' nomination not least because they are keen to see Mr Rumsfeld leave the role quickly. Democratic senators are thought unlikely to oppose Mr Gates' nomination not least because they are keen to see his predecessor Donald Rumsfeld leave the role quickly.
Mr Gates met Mr Bush for breakfast at the White House before the hearing, after which the president said the nominee would "do an excellent job".