New Panel to Investigate Iraq War Policy

By BARRY SCHWEID, AP Diplomatic Writer 2 hours, 1 minute ago

WASHINGTON - Ten prominent Americans, including former Secretary of State James A. Baker III, are forming a bipartisan group to assess the Bush administration's policies in
Iraq and political and economic developments in the troubled country.

The study was requested by Congress and will be announced Wednesday on Capitol Hill by Baker and Lee H. Hamilton, director of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, vice chairman of the Sept. 11 commission and a former member of Congress from Indiana, as providing a fresh look at Iraq.

Congress is increasingly restive about the human and financial toll of the administration's policies in Iraq and an apparently open-ended administration commitment to keep U.S. troops there and help rebuild the country amid sectarian violence and attacks by insurgents.

Five Republicans and five Democrats, including Robert M. Gates, director of the
CIA from 1991-93, will serve on the group. Former Sen. Charles Robb, D-Va., also will be a member.

SOURCE