The Jim Baker report on Iraq is a stunning indictment of George Bush’s Iraq war. For that, I’m thankful. But it’s a dishwater-weak response.

The report is like too many bipartisan, blue-ribbon reports: mush.

The strategy it proposes doesn’t rise to the crisis it describes:

“The situation in Iraq is grave and deteriorating. There is no path that can guarantee success….”

So the commission recommends:

• “New and enhanced diplomatic and political efforts”

• “A change in the primary mission of U.S. forces in Iraq that will enable the United States to begin to move its combat forces out of Iraq responsibly.”

That means by early 2008 – more than a year away. But U.S. military commanders don’t think Iraq will be ready to take over then.

In other words, the commission is looking for a fig leaf to cover withdrawal.

The real problem here is a lack of political will – not in Iraq, but right here in America.

No American politician – especially the ones running for President – want to be blamed for what happens if we leave now.

So nobody is raising the Emperor-has-no-clothes heart of the issue: We are not able to prevent chaos in Iraq. The country is in chaos. Sunnis and Shiites are killing each other right now. And we are not willing as a country to send in the huge number of troops it would take to stop them.

So the Big Shots in Washington are basically saying: Let more American troops die in Iraq so we our political careers won’t be hurt.

No. No more. It’s time to get out. Get out and leave the Iraqis to themselves. Let the Syrians and the Iranians deal with it. Better they fight with each other than with us.

And don’t fall for the canard that leaving increases the terrorism threat in the United States.

Incoming Defense Secretary Robert Gates settled that when he said in his confirmation hearing that the threat to us is not from Iraq, it’s from Osama. And we’re too bogged down in Iraq to protect against – and destroy – the real threat.

My presidential candidate is the first one who has the courage to speak the truth.

American troops have shown enough courage and paid enough of a price. It’s time for the politicians to stand up.

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