Will the President Listen to the Iraq Study Group?

Just days after the release of recommendations by the Iraq Study Group, we are already seeing George Bush's infamous stubborn streak make its presence known. In a news conference to address the report on December 7th with visiting British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Mr. Bush evaded several direct questions from reporters. Mr. Blair had little of value to say, seemingly dazed and confused. Americans are already being shown precisely what was in the report by the Iraq Study Group, but what will happen now? It is becoming painfully obvious that our government has no current plans to follow any of the urgent recommendations. Will the administration eventually cave in to the pressure? Even if Mr. Bush, Mr. Rove, and Dr. Rice do finally decide to explore other options including the ones set forth by the Iraq Study Group, will it have been too late?

During the joint press conference, the President was quoted as saying, "The Iraq Study Group is a really important part of our considerations, but we want to make sure the military gets their point of view in." This was after James Baker and Lee Hamilton, the co-chairs of the Iraq Study Group, revealed that they interviewed generals and other high-ranking military officials to make sure the military point of view was the bigger part of their report. The State Department is also compiling a report of its own to present options for Iraq. It appears that President Bush and the administration are hoping one of these other reports will say something to the effect of, "You were right, Mr. President, we need to stay the course and do everything you say, because if we don't we're unamerican, and will be attacked by terrorists."