Iraq Study Group Timeline
The following is a timeline of events that tracks the progress of the Iraq Study Group.
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December 2006
On December 14 USIP announces that its senior staff who served in lead support roles for the ISG are available to discuss their experiences with the media. USIP also announces that the ISG report has topped 1.4 million downloads on USIP's Web site.
On December 13 experts discuss the situation in Iraq and the findings of the ISG at a public event on Capitol Hill.
On December 6, the ISG releases its official report to the President, Congress, and the public.
- Watch a video of the Dec 6 press conference
- Read a transcript of the press conference
- Download the opening statements from the ISG co-chairs
- Read the President's Remarks
On December 4, the ISG announces that it will hold a press conference to discuss its report on December 6 in Washington, D.C.
November 2006
On November 29, at the end of three days of meetings, ISG co-chair Lee Hamilton announces that the group has reached consensus and will release their report to the American public on December 6 after briefing the President and Congress.
On November 13, the ISG meets with President Bush and members of his administration and releases a list of people whom they plan to meet with the following day.
On November 10, former U.S. Secretary of State Lawrence S. Eagleburger joins the Iraq Study Group to replace Robert Gates, who resigns because President Bush nominates him as Secretary of Defense.
October 2006
On October 8, ISG co-chair James Baker appears on two television programs to discuss his new book and his work with the Iraq Study Group.
- Watch ABC’s "This Week with George Stephanopoulos."
September 2006
On September 19, the ISG co-chairs hold a press conference to provide an update of their progress and a recap of their recent trip to Baghdad. They also release a list of 136 people they consulted in their research.
- Listen to the press conference
- Download the list of ISG consultations
- View a photo gallery of the press conference
August 2006
In August, the Iraq Study Group travels to Iraq. The ISG continues to meet with and receive briefings from the Expert Working Groups and other officials.
June 2006
On June 14, President Bush meets with the Iraq Study Group. Through USIP, Expert Working Group members work on briefings and analyses to assist the ISG.
May 2006
On May 31, former U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese replaces former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who resigns from the study group because his previous engagements prevent him from committing appropriate time to the ISG.
April 2006
On April 11, the ISG sends an update to Congress on its progress and holds a press conference to describe their meetings with the Expert Working Groups.
March 2006
In March, Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA) asks USIP to coordinate the Iraq Study Group and Congress appropriates funds for its administration. Three other organizations are asked to assist: the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Center for the Study of the Presidency, and the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University. Congressional organizers select former Secretary of State James A. Baker, III, and former chairman of the House International Relations Committee Lee Hamilton as co-chairs of the ISG. The co-chairs, in consultation with the supporting organizations, choose the other members of the ISG.
On March 15 the official announcement of the Iraq Study Group is made on Capitol Hill.
- Download the unofficial transcript
- View a photo gallery of the press conference
- Read the news release
USIP forms four Expert Working Groups and one Military Senior Adviser Panel to advise the Iraq Study Group on four broad topics: Economy and Reconstruction; Military and Security; Political Development; and Strategic Environment.