by Terri Firma

Reports have emerged that Iraqis in the provisional government have formed their own “US Study Group,” now discussing long-range goals for Iraqi participation in the US occupation. “We thought it was high time,” said a source. “If they can have a study group about us, then, darn it, we want to have one too.”

The chief contrast from the Iraqi group compared to the US group is a focus on how to maximize use of US resources, and minimize use of Iraqi resources.  Both groups are in concordance, however, on the need to shift policy emphasis away from benchmarks or timetables for lessening US involvement in the country.   “That would not be in our best interest,” the Iraqi report reportedly concludes, “because otherwise, when we break stuff, we’ll be expected to fix it.”