Random House To Publish Iraq Report Wednesday

NEW YORK, Nov. 30 -- An authorized edition of the much-anticipated Iraq Study Group report will be published by Random House Inc. on Wednesday, the same day President Bush and congressional leaders are to receive the bipartisan committee's recommendations.

"We're thrilled to be publishing such a landmark report and will produce it with record speed to be sure it's available to readers on the day that it makes news," Anne Messitte, executive vice president and publisher of Vintage Books, said Thursday.

Vintage, a paperback imprint of Random House, will publish "The Iraq Study Group Report: The Way Forward -- A New Approach" at a suggested retail price of $10.95. The print run has not been determined.

Led by former secretary of state James A. Baker III, a Republican, and former Democratic congressman Lee Hamilton, the 10-member panel will address issues such as troop levels in Iraq and whether to negotiate with Syria and Iran.

Government documents are not usually known for their commercial or literary appeal, but two years ago W.W. Norton's official version of "The 9/11 Commission Report" sold more than 1 million copies -- even though the text could be downloaded free -- and received a National Book Award nomination.

The Iraq report also will be posted Wednesday on the Web sites of the U.S. Institute of Peace ( http://usip.org) and the James Baker Institute ( http://bakerinstitute.org).

"I think interest in the Iraq report depends on what's in it," said Barbara Meade, co-owner of Politics & Prose bookstore in Washington. "I think it will sell better if there's some dividing up of the blame for how we got into this in the first place, instead of just having scenarios for improving the situation."

Messitte said a still-undetermined portion of the proceeds from the Iraq report will be donated to a charity for those in the military and their families.