Iraq inquiry panel 'to urge combat troops pull-out by 2008'

13 April 2012

Pulling combat troops out of Iraq by 2008 will be part of a new strategy being put to US President George Bush by a bi-partisan panel today, according to US reports.

Details of the Iraq Study Group's long-awaited recommendations have begun to appear in the American media ahead of its official publication.

It is due to be released later today as Prime Minister Tony Blair - who gave evidence to the panel last month - arrives in Washington for talks with Mr Bush.

The Washington Post said the inquiry, set up by Congress and led by ex-Secretary of State James Baker, would set 2008 as a goal for the pull-out.

It would recommend that tens of thousands of non-combat forces should stay instead to advise, train and embed with Iraqi forces, a source told the newspaper.

President Bush would be told to threaten the Iraqi government with reduced support if it failed to meet security requirements.

And he would also face calls to open talks with Iran and Syria and "aggressively tackle" the Israel/Palestine issue - both moves strongly backed by Mr Blair.

The Prime Minister used a high-profile speech last month to offer "partnership" to Damascus and Tehran if they stopped supporting terrorism and met international obligations not to pursue nuclear arms.

And he has targeted the Middle East peace process as a focus for his remaining time in office.

The report's publication, at 4pm UK time, comes a day after Mr Bush's nominee for Defence Secretary, Robert Gates, said the US was not winning the war in Iraq.

Appearing at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Mr Gates said the next two years could see slow improvements in Iraq or "the very real risk of a regional conflagration".

Mr Gates served on the Baker Group, which was asked by Congress to carry out a six-month inquiry into future policy on Iraq and last month took evidence from the Prime Minister.

Mr Bush is due to receive an advance copy of the ISG report this morning, but Mr Blair will be in the air over the Atlantic when it is published and is not expected to see it until he lands in Washington in the evening.

He will use the 24-hour visit to drive home his message that a solution in Iraq must be part of a "whole Middle East strategy", also including a resolution of the Israel/Palestine problem and stability for Lebanon.

Before he sets off for the States, Mr Blair is likely to face a grilling on Iraq at Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, then watch his expected successor Gordon Brown deliver what will probably be his final Pre-Budget Report as Chancellor.

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