A Switch in Time: A New Strategy for America in Iraq

There is no greater foreign policy challenge for the United States today than the reconstruction of Iraq. For this reason, the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution convened a small group of experts on the process of political and economic reconstruction and military affairs to consider U.S. policy toward Iraq in all of its dimensions. Kenneth Pollack then took the results of these discussions, along with findings from trips to Iraq and to U.S. Central Command headquarters, and crafted a new strategy for America in Iraq. A Switch in Time: A New Strategy for America in Iraq is a comprehensive, alternative approach to current U.S. military, political, and economic policies in Iraq.

On Wednesday, February 15, 2006 at 2:30 p.m., Kenneth Pollack, director of research, Saban Center for Middle East Policy, Brookings, presented his report titled A Switch in Time: A New Strategy for America in Iraq. Commentary was supplied by Rep. Jane Harman, ranking member, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; Rep. Christopher Shays, chairman, Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations, House Committee on Government Reform; and Joseph Siegle, senior advisor for democratic governance, Development Alternatives, Inc. The briefing was moderated by Carlos Pascual, vice president and director, Foreign Policy Studies, Brookings.

A question and answer session followed remarks.