The Lone Ranger

Dec. 9, 2006 - Consensus. That was the watchword for Jim Baker and Lee Hamilton, co-chairmen of the Iraq Study Group, as they unveiled the panel’s long-awaited report. Like a pair of politically ecumenical Siamese twins, they trudged around Washington chanting their mantra: “We believe that a constructive solution requires that a new political consensus be built, a new consensus … at home and a new consensus abroad. And it is in that spirit that we have approached our study group’s task on a bipartisan basis,” said Baker. We “hope very much that in moving forward others will wish to continue to broaden and deepen the bipartisan spirit that has helped us come together.”

Mission accomplished. According to the new NEWSWEEK poll, Americans back the ISG’s recommendations by a two-to-one margin. In interviews with 1,000 adults done Dec. 6 and Dec. 7, 39 percent of Americans said they generally agree with the group’s 79 recommendations, while 20 percent said they disagree. (Twenty-six percent said, in effect: “Report, what report?”)

What is the new consensus? Nearly two out of three Americans (65 percent) concur with the Iraq Study Group that the U.S. should threaten to reduce economic and military aid to the Baghdad government unless it meets benchmarks for security and development. Fifty-seven percent believe Washington should reach out to its adversaries Iran and Syria in an effort to stabilize Iraq. And 61 percent believe Washington should launch a new and sustained effort to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Print this Email this Blog this  IM this