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Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/30/world/middleeast/30policy.html
Iraq Panel to Recommend Pullback of Combat Troops
[New York Times] David E. Sanger and David S. Cloud - The bipartisan Iraq Study Group reached a consensus on Wednesday on a final report that will call for a gradual pullback of the 15 American combat brigades now in Iraq but stop short of setting a firm timetable for their withdrawal. As described by the people involved in the deliberations, the bulk of the report focused on a recommendation that the U.S. devise a far more aggressive diplomatic initiative in the Middle East than Mr. Bush has been willing to try so far, including direct engagement with Iran and Syria. Initially, those contacts might be part of a regional conference on Iraq or broader Middle East peace issues, like the Israeli-Palestinian situation, but they would ultimately involve direct, high-level talks with Tehran and Damascus.