[Forward] Nathan Guttman - Several advisers to the bipartisan Iraq Study Group were surprised and upset by the decision of panel leaders to argue that American success in Iraq depends in part on progress in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In interviews, several of the experts who advised the panel said they were shocked that the Israeli-Palestinian issue was included in the final report, since they had been told not to address the matter in their recommendations. One staff member argued that making such a linkage was "stupid" and pointed to Edward Djerejian, a former ambassador to Syria and Israel with close ties to James Baker, as the person who inserted the language regarding Israel. Another staff member told of a joke that was made when the issue came up: "Does anyone think that if we solve the [Israeli-Palestinian] conflict, the insurgent in Fallujah will say 'Great, now I can put back my AK-47 and go home.'"
2007-02-01 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive