No stated position (12/6/06)

"The Iraq Study Group will make a forward-looking, independent assessment of the current and prospective situation on the ground in Iraq and how that affects the surrounding region as well as U.S. interests."

"The ISG was not given a statutory mandate when it was created. However, at the direction of the ISG co-chairs, its orientation has been to offer a forward-looking assessment of the current and prospective situation in Iraq, including policy suggestions and advice. Specifically, ISG members have focused their review of the situation in Iraq on four broad topics:

• The strategic environment in Iraq and the region;
• The security of Iraq and key challenges to enhancing security within the country;
• Political developments within Iraq following the elections and formation of the new government;
• The economy and reconstruction."

"The ISG principals are a bipartisan group of senior individuals who have had distinguished careers in public service. Its co-chairs are former Secretary of State James A. Baker, III (R) and former chairman of the House International Relations Committee Lee Hamilton (D).

Co-chairs Baker and Hamilton were chosen by mutual agreement among the Congressional organizers, USIP, and the other supporting organizations. After being named co-chairs, Baker and Hamilton selected the remaining group members in consultation with USIP and the other supporting organizations.

USIP has convened expert working groups in the areas of Economy and Reconstruction; Military and Security; Political Development; and Strategic Environment. The working groups are chaired by senior USIP staff, and their membership is comprised of experts from academia, government and the private sector. The experts contributed 31 different analytical and policy papers for the Study Group’s review. In all, 44 such experts have participated pro bono to provide advice to the Study Group.

ISG principals have met with many current and former high-level U.S. and Iraqi government officials in Washington, Iraq and elsewhere, including President Bush, Iraqi Prime Minister Al-Maliki, as well as military officers, foreign government officials, academics, business executives and heads of civil society organizations in the U.S. and in Iraq. The ISG members met with 171 individuals over nine months. In addition, the expert working group members have met with or consulted hundreds of others.

The Iraq Study Group is comprised of ten individuals:

• James A. Baker, III - Republican, former Secretary of State
• Lee Hamilton - Democrat, former chairman of the House International Relations Committee
• Lawrence S. Eagleburger - Republican, former U.S. Secretary of State
• Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. - Democrat, Senior Managing Director, Lazard, Freres & Co. LLC
• Edwin Meese, III - Republican, former Attorney General
• Sandra Day O’Connor - Republican, Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court (Retired)
• Leon E. Panetta - Democrat, former White House Chief of Staff
• William J. Perry - Democrat, former Secretary of Defense
• Charles S. Robb - Democrat, former Governor and former U.S. Senator of Virginia
• Alan K. Simpson - Republican, Former U.S. Senator from Wyoming

• $1.3 million

• James A. Baker, III, Co-Chair
• Lee H. Hamilton, Co-Chair

• Representative Frank Wolf (R-VA), Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee, leading supporter of the group's creation
• United States Institute of Peace (USIP), facilitating agency
• Center for the Study of the Presidency (CSP), contributing partner and organization
• Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), contributing partner and organization
• James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University, contributing partner and organization