The bipartisan Iraq Study Group releases its long-awaited report today. In a new development, The Washington Post reports the panel will recommend President Bush threaten the Iraqi government with a reduction of economic and military support if it fails to meet specific goals on improving security. The Washington Post also reports many of the Iraq Study Group’s advisers have concluded the war in Iraq is already lost. In July, a draft report said: “there is even doubt that any level of resources could achieve the administration’s stated goals.” That wording has been removed. While the Iraq Study report is being hailed as the dawn of a change of course, Iraqis are voicing skepticism.

Iraqi citizen Ali Al-Duleimi: “The study that James Baker submitted is doomed to fail because he is a Republican and he participated in the blockade of Iraq that lasted for 12 years. He is also the one that participated in the 1990 attack that damaged Iraq. He is now aiming at establishing basics that will support the Iraqi army; on the contrary, he is damaging the Iraqi army. And we are demanding the pullout of the U.S. forces from Iraq.”