U.S./IRAQ: The Iraq Study Group (ISG) submitted its report to U.S. President George W. Bush. James Baker, co-chair of the ISG, said an international support group should be created to support political, economic and military affairs in Iraq. The group must include Iraq, all of Iraq's neighbors, Egypt, the European Union and others. He added that the ISG recommends a fivefold increase in the number of U.S. troops involved in training Iraqi troops, but not an increase of more than 100,000 soldiers. The ISG also does not recommend an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq because it could invite a regional war, Baker said. Co-chair Lee Hamilton said that by the end of 2008, all U.S. combat brigades subject to developments on the ground that are deemed unnecessary for force protection could be out of Iraq. He added that U.S. Special Forces will continue targeting al Qaeda. Hamilton also said the United States "must not make an open-ended commitment to Iraq."
*************************************************************
IRAQ: Iraqi oil production will not meet its targeted capacity or increase its output because of depleted reservoirs, insufficient reforms, poor security, infrastructure sabotage and corruption, according to a report published by the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction. Following an attack on a northern pipeline, oil production declined to an average of 2.27 million barrels per day (bpd) in the third quarter. Iraqi oil production is targeted for 2.8 million bpd by the end of September 2007 |
