Conclusion First, Debate Afterwards

It is never a good idea to uncover your back to James Baker or any of the other Washington veterans of political wars. It is people like him that engendered the phrase: "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog."

Michael Rubin gives us an idea of the makeup of the Baker-Hamilton Commission and a depressing prediction of the type of "political realism" that always manages to kill millions of people as "peace" descends like a curtain and we avert our eyes while congratulating ourselves on our pragmatism.

POLICYMAKERS ARE ABUZZ with the explosive recommendations for U.S. policy toward Iraq soon to be released by the Baker-Hamilton Commission: Abandon democracy, seek political compromise with the Sunni insurgents, and engage Tehran and Damascus as partners to secure stability in their neighbor.

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