Group releases its much-hyped report

Of course the Iraq Study Group is about providing political cover for the Bush administration and Congress, who dragged this country to war and so screwed it up. So it is no surprise that there are no radical recommendations here.

My favorite parts of the Iraq Study Group Report are Recommendations 22 and 23.

RECOMMENDATION 22: The President should state that the United States does not seek permanent military bases in Iraq. If the Iraqi government were to request a temporary base or bases, then the U.S. government could consider that request as it would in the case of any other government.

RECOMMENDATION 23: The President should restate that the United States does not seek to control Iraq’s oil.

More than a mere statement on Recommendation 23, the President, this country and its corporations should be forbidden from taking any part in Iraq’s oil economy.

I know, these recommendations are kind of obvious, but this is what the Iraq war is about: Iraq’s oil, and controlling it with permanent US military bases. Once it is clear that there will be no permanent bases and no oil, then from Bush’s perspective there is no national interest or military objective, and “stay the course” and “indefinite” US military presence are no longer relevant policy options; and we will be free to begin withdrawing and redeploying our forces. When we remove the Bush Administration’s interests from the Iraq equation, then maybe we can start looking at the Iraqi’s interests, the region’s interests and the world’s interests.

RECOMMENDATION 72: Costs for the war in Iraq should be included in the President’s annual budget request, starting in FY 2008: the war is in its fourth year, and the normal budget process should not be circumvented. Funding requests for the war in Iraq should be presented clearly to Congress and the American people. Congress must carry out its constitutional responsibility to review budget requests for the war in Iraq carefully and to conduct oversight.

This is another no-brainer. The next time our government wants to go to start a war and invade another country, they should fund it the same way a local government pays for a new school: a bond measure should be put before the voters that says, “Do you want to raise your income tax by 3 percent for the next 20 years in order to pay for our country’s war and imperial aspirations in Iran?”

What are your favorite parts of the report?