Senators Question Iraq Panel's Strategy

President Bush, right, holds a copy of the Iraq Study Group report as Group Co-Chairman Lee Hamilton looks on, following their meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2006. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) (Pablo Martinez Monsivais - AP)

"We need the White House to become the `Iraq Results Group,' " she said.

Baker said Congress could play a key role in that regard.

"If the Congress would come together behind supporting -- let's say utopianly -- all of the recommendations of this report, that would do a lot toward moving things downtown," Baker told the committee.

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

Bush has called Iraq the central front in the war on terrorism. Asked by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., whether he agreed, Baker replied, "It may not have been when we first went in but it certainly is now."

Hamilton added, "I would strike the word 'the' and use the word 'a'. To make it 'the' central front overstates it."

Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, both said they are skeptical about another of the commission's key recommendations: that the administration approach Iran in search of help in stabilizing Iraq, as part of a regional diplomatic initiative.

"I'm skeptical that it's realistic to think that Iran wants to help the United States succeed in Iraq," Lieberman said.

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

But Baker said he saw no harm in approaching Iran anyway, and if it declines to help, "then we will hold them up to public scrutiny as the rejectionist state they have proven to be."

Hamilton said that while Iran has been unhelpful to U.S. interests in Iraq thus far, "We do not think it's in the Iranian interest for the American policy to fail completely, and to lead to chaos in that country." He said the Iranian's main worry is that a chaotic Iraq would lead to a refugee crisis on its border.

McCain also questioned the wisdom of the group's recommendation that many more U.S. troops be placed inside Iraqi combat units to advise and train them on the battlefield. He said this was too dangerous.

Hamilton acknowledged that it was risky but said there would be combat forces available to protect the trainers and adviser. He added that it was the group's consensus view that this approach was necessary in order to phase out the U.S. combat role and accelerate the building of competent Iraqi security forces.

"But there is no blinking the fact that that's a risky mission and a difficult mission and we should not slide over it as you have not in your comments," Hamilton said.

The study panel's 96-page report said flatly that the administration's approach was not working and recommended that the U.S. military accelerate a change in its main mission so that most combat troops can be withdrawn by spring 2008.