Perry wants action on ISG ideas

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- An Iraq Study Group member, in the Democratic Party's radio address, painted a grim picture of Iraq and called for U.S. movement on the group's ideas.

William Perry, an ISG member and U.S. secretary of defense under former President Bill Clinton, had nothing but harsh words for the Bush administration's handling of the Iraq situation -- from the reasons for going to war there, to the current status on the ground to what is likely to happen once U.S. forces leave.

U.S. President George Bush was given the ISG report, commissioned by Congress, last week and said he would "seriously" consider each of the 79 recommendations.

"I wish I had more a positive report to give you but dealing with this intractable problem must begin by swallowing a strong dose of reality," Perry said Saturday. "And if our report accomplishes nothing else, it will force the country to face that reality."

The ISG offered three key points -- changing the U.S. military mission to training Iraqi forces; prompt action by Iraqi leaders to advance reconciliation efforts and an increase in diplomatic efforts in the greater Middle East.