Iraq Study Group Recommendations Won't End War and Occupation

Interview with Nancy Lessin, cofounder of Military Families Speak Out, conducted by Scott Harris

When the Iraq Study group unveiled their set of 79 recommendations to confront what the panel labeled as a "grave and deteriorating" situation in Iraq, President Bush gave the bipartisan committee's prescriptions a lukewarm reception. Bush now intends to shop around for new ideas on how to proceed with his Iraq War strategy and report to the American people on his new direction after the new year.

Among the Study Group's key recommendations are: the gradual withdrawal of most U.S. combat troops by early 2008; initiate a regional dialogue to include Iran and Syria and applying pressure to the government of Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki to reduce sectarian violence or be subject to cutbacks in U.S. support. Iraq's President Jalal Talabani leveled criticism at the report, saying that it is "not fair, is not just, and it contains some very dangerous articles which undermine the sovereignty of Iraq and the Constitution." Some conservative Republicans were more blunt in their criticism of the report, describing it as defeatist.

As the death toll in Iraq climbs ever higher among the civilian population and U.S. soldiers, the debate in Washington goes on with little input from peace groups and veteran's organizations who continue to call for a rapid withdrawal of U.S. troops and an end to the U.S. occupation. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Military Families Speak Out co-founder Nancy Lessin, who discusses the Iraq Study Group recommendations and the pressure she feels must be applied to the incoming Democratic Congress to end the war.

Call Military Families Speak Out at (617) 983-0710 or visit their website at www.mfso.org

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