With the release of the Iraq Study Group Report, it's pretty clear that America has assumed the role of "surrender monkeys." Who could have guessed that we could become bigger capitulators and cowards than the French, previous holders of the title?

Upon review of the executive summary of the ISG Report, it would seem that the methodology of the "Study Group" consisted of James Baker and Lee Hamilton sitting in front of the TV watching CNN 24/7. The Report reads more like a declaration and terms of surrender. Although I have never read the document signed between the United States and Japan, bringing the Pacific theater of World War II to a close, I cannot imagine that it reads much different than the ISG Report.

And I have no idea what this commission cost, in terms of tax dollars, but I am sure the U.S. government could have saved lots of our tax dollars and simply hired Barbra Streisand to declare an official surrender. (I'm sure she'd pen the letter free of charge.)

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Of the myriad recommendations made by Baker/Hamilton, a few of the more ridiculous ones are:

• Open diplomacy with Iran and Syria

• Find solution to Israel/Palestine conflict, including forfeiture of Golan Heights

• Phased troop "redeployment"

• Iran should "stem flow of arms and training into Iraq"

• Syria should more thoroughly secure it's borders

Interesting is the fact that the report is filled with current liberal terminology: "redeployment," "grave, deteriorating situation," etc.

The list drones on and on and is as extensive as it is useless. In fact, the only truly useful recommendations contained in the report involve the United States increasing its "support" role of Iraq's military and law enforcement – both of which are already being done.

The executive summary closes with a "Letter from the Co-Chairs," which begins, "There is no magic formula to solve the problems of Iraq." It brings to a close a document that represents two things: Liberals at their finest and America at its most pathetic.

The simple fact is that there is a magic formula to solve the problems in Iraq. It's called unity. As I've stated time and again, if America stood united in its focus and stood united in support of our troops and our mission, this war would likely already be over. However, our friends in the media and their liberal keepers conspire to make America fail. Liberals love to see America lose. The lies that have been constantly spoken by our "leadership," then parroted by the media, have taken hold and soured many Americans to our mission.

An honest look at the war on terror, viewed both by current standards as well as history, points to a conclusion vastly different than what either liberals or the media present. Speaking with soldiers in the fight, commanders of our troops and Iraqi citizens, opinion is nearly unanimous: We are winning in a big way.

Both the media as well as our liberal leaders are lying about our efforts in Iraq and they are swaying public opinion.

Certainly, they are swaying the simple-minded Baker and Hamilton.

Tim Hirota

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