A second look for Iraq Study Group proposals

On Capitol Hill, both Democrat and Republican lawmakers are planning to introduce legislation soon that would make the 79 Iraq Study Group recommendations official policy of the US government.

The administration is also preparing for its first substantive discussions with Iran, to begin on Memorial Day, not long after its first high-level talks with Syria in four years.

The Iraq Study Group had strongly urged such regional diplomacy aimed at fostering a political settlement and bringing down the sectarian violence in Baghdad.

The comeback of the Iraq Study Group8217;s suggestions underscores the intense desire by some in Washington to fashion a workable long-term policy on Iraq. Bush has spoken frequently in recent weeks about his interest in the Iraq Study Group8217;s proposal to shift the American military8217;s role in Iraq from combat to training and support and reduce the number of US troops. 8220;I liked what James A Baker and Lee Hamilton suggested,8221; Bush said last month.