Senators doubt Iraq panel146;s blueprint

Senators raised sharp questions on Thursday about the Iraq Study Group8217;s recommendations for changing US diplomatic and military strategies in the war...

Senators raised sharp questions on Thursday about the Iraq Study Group8217;s recommendations for changing US diplomatic and military strategies in the war, as the panel8217;s leaders urged the Bush administration and Congress to urgently work out a new bipartisan approach.

One of the commission8217;s co-chairmen, former Rep Lee Hamilton, underscored the urgency of changing course in Iraq, where conditions were described as grave and deteriorating. He was asked at what point the situation there, if not corrected, will be hopeless.

8220;Well, there certainly is that point, and we8217;re perilously close to that point,8221; he replied.

Most senators broadly endorsed the commission8217;s report, which made 79 recommendations for policy changes. Their skepticism focused mainly on two of the recommendations: a diplomatic approach to Iran and Syria, and an acceleration of the US military8217;s work to train and advise Iraqi forces.

Sen Hillary Rodham Clinton said the key question now is whether President George W Bush will effectively implement a new policy. 8220;We need the White House to become the 8216;Iraq Results Group,8217; 8220; she said. Baker said Congress could play a key role in that regard. 8220;If the Congress would come together behind supporting 8212;let8217;s say utopianly8212; all of the recommendations of this report, that would do a lot toward moving things8221; forward, Baker said.

Sen John McCain, a Republican, told Hamilton and Baker that he does not believe their approach will work. 8220;There8217;s only one thing worse than an over-stressed Army and Marine Corps, and that8217;s a defeated Army and Marine Corps,8221; said McCain, a Vietnam veteran and a 2008 Republican presidential hopeful.

As the pair appeared on Capitol Hill, Bush met at the White House with British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Speaking to reporters, Bush referred to this as a 8220;difficult moment for America and Great Britain.8221;

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Bush has called Iraq the central front in the war on terrorism. Asked by Sen Lindsay Graham whether he agreed, Baker replied, 8220;It may not have been when we first went in but it certainly is now.8221;

Sen Joseph Lieberman, a Democrat, and Sen Susan Collins, a Republican, both said they are skeptical about another of the commission8217;s key recommendations: that the administration approach Iran in search of help in stabilising Iraq, as part of a regional diplomatic initiative.

Baker acknowledged that the Iranians were unlikely to help, even if asked. He said during the course of the commission8217;s discussions an Iranian official told him that Iran was not inclined to help.

8211;ROBERT BURNS