Iraq Study Group says strategy needs to be changed now

The Iraq Study Group's report given to President Bush earlier today says the United States needs to change its strategy to tackle the "grave and deteriorating" situation in Iraq. The report went on to say that a failure to halt the crisis could bring severe consequences to Iraq, the broader region and the United States.

Among the group's 79 recommendations:

There must be a "diplomatic offensive" which includes an end to the U.S. troop combat role by 2008;

The U.S. troop mission should evolve to role of supporting Iraqi Army;

The Iraqi government needs to show progress or risk cuts in U.S. aid; and

President Bush and Congress must cooperate or "policy is doomed to failure"

More information about the report can be found here.

Meanwhile, another 10 U.S. troops were killed in Iraq today, bringing the death toll of U.S. military personnel for this month alone to 27.