Four days in Iraq

The wise men swoop in and make their pronouncements.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 — A leader of a high-level panel studying American policy toward Iraq said Tuesday that Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki must take immediate action to improve security, end sectarian killings, reduce corruption and deliver basic services if he wants to retain United States support.

The independent panel, led by former Representative Lee H. Hamilton of Indiana and former Secretary of State James A. Baker III, said it would make detailed recommendations to President Bush and Congress after the midterm elections.

The group, formed at the request of Congress and with the approval of the Bush administration, visited Iraq for four days this month. Members said they had met with more than three dozen Iraqi officials, including Mr. Maliki. The group has also met with Mr. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld. Panel members expect to meet soon with an Iranian official, whom they did not identify, with the Saudi ambassador to the United States and with the foreign minister of Syria.

If Mr. Bush is looking for an opportunity to revise American policy in Iraq, the panel, known as the Iraq Study Group, could be a catalyst.

Yes, I'm being snarky about the group's ability to solve the intractible problems brought about by our occupation of Iraq by spending all of four days there, but if this is an opening to engage Syria and Iran on stopping the violence, then they truly are wise men.