I am completey unimpressed with the results of the Iraq Study Group.  I won't go as far as to say they are advocating the United States to "cut and run".......but they really are.  Dress it up however you want, the commission is calling for a U.S. withdrawal.  No matter how we look at this the Iranians and Syrians are seeing this as a defeat for the United States.

The commission advocates negotiating with Iran and Syria.  What they don't say is exactly what leverage we have for negotiations to begin with.  The primary interests of both Iran and Syria are to drive the United States completely out of the Middle East.  Nothing short of that will be acceptable to them. 

Emboldened by our perceived limitations they no longer fear U.S. military retribution.  If they no longer fear our military power perhaps it is time to remind them that, unlike terrorists and insurgent groups, nation-states have thousands of fixed targets that can be destroyed.  Granted an invasion is not in the cards for either country but an extended air campaign and naval action could inflict enormously expensive damage to either country.

Most importantly we need to remind these countries that we are not afraid of them or what they can do.  Yes, both the Iranians and Syrians are very talented at terrorism. However, we can destroy or damage far more of their countries assets then they could of ours.  And we can do so within hours.