Iraq IV: Is It Time to Slice and Dice?

It has been an open secret for some time that James Baker's Iraq Study Group will recommend that the U.S. not stay in the course in Iraq and will cover George Bush's ass by presenting alternative solutions, including partitioning the war-torn country in to sectarian regions.

Reports the Times of London:

"[Baker's] group will not advise 'partition', but is believed to favour a division of the country that will devolve power and security to the regions, leaving a skeletal national government in Baghdad in charge of foreign affairs, border protection and the distribution of oil revenue.
"The Iraqi government will be encouraged to hold a constitutional conference paving the way for greater devolution. Iran and Syria will be urged to back a regional settlement that could be brokered at an international conference."

I find much merit in the plan for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is getting the U.S. the hell out of Iraq.

But Michael Young argues otherwise in a commentary at Hit and Run.

(Hat tip to Andrew Sullivan at The Daily Dish.)