Reuters: Biden sets benchmarks for Iraq study group

Biden sets benchmarks for Iraq study group

Reuters
Monday, November 27, 2006; 8:10 PM

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic Sen. Joseph Biden, who will be the next
chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, set down benchmarks
on Monday that he said should be addressed by an influential panel considering
the United States' alternatives in Iraq.

Biden of Delaware issued a statement as the Iraq Study Group, headed by former
Secretary of State James Baker, a Republican, and former Rep. Lee Hamilton,
a Democrat, met to decide its recommendations.

Biden said the group must address three central points, including U.S. troop
deployments, a political roadmap for Iraq and the need to convene an international
conference and engage Iraq's neighbors, Iran and Syria.

"If the Baker-Hamilton commission addresses these three issues in detail, it can
meet Americans' growing expectations," Biden said. "If it doesn't, it risks forgoing
the bipartisan support we need for any plan to leave Iraq responsibly, without
trading a dictator for chaos."

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