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07/12/2006
Iraq debated by Blair and Bush in White House
British Prime Minister Tony Blair is in Washington for talks with US President George W Bush that are expected to concentrate on policy issues in Iraq.
The meeting comes just a day after the release of a report that calls for the withdrawal of US troops by 2008.
The US bipartisan Iraq Study Group report made 79 recommendations as it branded the situation in Iraq as "grave and deteriorating."
The report called for the US government to work with the Iraq government to draw up a comprehensive new "diplomatic offensive" before the end of December.
The authors of the report called for the Bush administration to make a sharp u-turn and involve Iraq's neighbours, Iran and Syria, in the country's future.
Mr Blair has already attempted to start building bridges with Iraq's neighbours which the Bush administration term part of the "axis of evil."
The scathing attack on the handling of the Iraq situation will not go down well in the Bush camp which is increasingly isolated in its stance which is diametrically opposite to many of the issues tackled in the reports sweeping recommendations.
But a delay in action from the US is likely as the National Security Council is in the process of conducting its own review of the Iraq, as is the Pentagon.
The new US Defense Secretary Robert gates has already conceded that the US is not winning the war in Iraq and has expressed a willingness to listen to new ideas.
The Iraq government has welcomed the report as being in accordance with its policy.
(SP)
The meeting comes just a day after the release of a report that calls for the withdrawal of US troops by 2008.
The US bipartisan Iraq Study Group report made 79 recommendations as it branded the situation in Iraq as "grave and deteriorating."
The report called for the US government to work with the Iraq government to draw up a comprehensive new "diplomatic offensive" before the end of December.
The authors of the report called for the Bush administration to make a sharp u-turn and involve Iraq's neighbours, Iran and Syria, in the country's future.
Mr Blair has already attempted to start building bridges with Iraq's neighbours which the Bush administration term part of the "axis of evil."
The scathing attack on the handling of the Iraq situation will not go down well in the Bush camp which is increasingly isolated in its stance which is diametrically opposite to many of the issues tackled in the reports sweeping recommendations.
But a delay in action from the US is likely as the National Security Council is in the process of conducting its own review of the Iraq, as is the Pentagon.
The new US Defense Secretary Robert gates has already conceded that the US is not winning the war in Iraq and has expressed a willingness to listen to new ideas.
The Iraq government has welcomed the report as being in accordance with its policy.
(SP)
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