Among those backing the proposals were Sir Menzies Campbell, the Liberal Democrat leader; Liam Fox, the Conservative defence spokesman; Denis MacShane, the former Europe minister; Tony Lloyd, chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, and Sir Malcolm Rifkind, the former Conservative foreign secretary.
...
Sir John Walker, Intelligence chief and author of pre-war report on invading Iraq:

Some of us had warned about the inherent dangers of the second Iraq war, but we had not anticipated the magnitude of the cock-up. The Americans have behaved irrationally in Iraq and a blueprint for a solution from an Iraqi public figure is welcome.

Nadim Shehadi, Associate fellow, Chatham House:

The main emphasis here is on the Iraq government taking the initiative. The whole conception of the plan changes the image of the Iraq government from a failed project the international community has to fix to the main engine for fixing the regional and world's problems. But you cannot fix the crises in the region - Iraq, Palestine or Lebanon - independently.

The cost of this plan? Around $12 billion... or, at the current $250 million-a-day cost of the war, about seven weeks cost.

   McGovern and Polk have a simple, eloquent, cost-effective, moral and diplomatically ideal plan, published in their book Out of Iraq and summarized in a recent issue of Harper's.

    The highpoints of the plan are these:

       * Withdraw American military forces and private mercenaries within 6 months, beginning in December
       * Terminate all post-war oil contracts and return the Iraqi oil industry to Iraqis
       * Adopt and implement an economic plan that would:

           1. Rebuild Iraqi infrastructure,
           2. Build hospitals and schools,
           3. Close U.S. prisons in Iraq and release P.O.W.s,
           4. Eliminate U.S. bases,
           5. Provide financial assistance to create a national reconstruction corps,
           6. Provide for an independent audit of all funds spent on the war,
           7. Fund reparations to Iraqi civilians,
           8. Fully fund veterans' services in the U.S.,
           9. Rebuild Babylon, and
           10. Finance the creation of a national Iraqi police force (instead of an Army).

    Additionally, they insist the United States must offer condolences to Iraq. This significant gesture is non- negotiable.

    The cost of this plan? Around $12 billion... or, at the current $250 million-a-day cost of the war, about seven weeks cost.

For more information on the McGovern-Polk plan, you can get the McGovern - Polk book at Amazon.com <http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1416534563/johngabreessa-20>

or

Read an excerpt <http://www.impracticalproposals.com/OutOfIraqNow.html>

or