In about six months the next president of the United States, either the Democratic Party's Barack Obama or the Republican John McCain, will have to come to grips with the war in Iraq. For the moment both men are off mark: McCain says U.S. forces should stay for as long as it takes – an unrealistic stance given the way events are going in Iraq; while Obama advocates a quick withdrawal – an unrealistic position as well.

Iraq does not live in a cocoon, isolated from the rest of the region. The mayhem the country is currently undergoing affects its neighbors. It is therefore logical to involve those neighbors in any attempt at finding a lasting solution. That means – as much as the U.S. George W. Bush administration rejects the notion – engaging Syria and Iran in talks.

The Task Force for a Responsible Withdrawal from Iraq has come out with a study entitled, "Quickly, Carefully, and Generously: The Necessary Steps for a Responsible Withdrawal from Iraq," in which it offers several proposals toward that end, while remaining aware of the challenge of such an endeavor.

The Task Force asks: "What concrete policy steps can the U.S. government take, immediately and during the withdrawal, to encourage peace and stability in Iraq?"

Its authors start off by recognizing that Iraq is a traumatized and politically fragmented country – they could have added "religiously fragmented as well" – and that the United States and the international community bear a responsibility to contribute to the alleviation of suffering and the advancement of stability and peace in Iraq.

Among the steps called for is to:

-- Signal that all of Iraq's neighbors, including Syria and Iran, will henceforth be treated as partners in promoting stability. The two countries should be engaged in non-coercive give-and-take diplomacy addressing bilateral issues.

-- Inform the Iraqi government of Nouri al-Maliki that the United States will soon announce a timetable for withdrawal and will shift toward a stance that emphasizes neutrality and noninterference in Iraqi politics.

-- Engage with Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey seeking their support for peace and economic recovery efforts in Iraq.

-- Cease pressure on Iraq to open up its oil sector and other parts of any of its economy.

-- Support the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees in better addressing the

plight of Iraqi refugees and internally displaced persons.

The report states: In sum, the United States can and should quickly carry out a full military withdrawal from Iraq, carefully pursue diplomatic remedies for the Iraqi crisis, and generously give to help rebuild in Iraq in the long run. The responsibilities are not America's alone, but America must lead.

Overall, the report is extremely detailed and has many merits. But similar to both presidential candidates, it falls short in addressing the timetable for pulling out U.S. forces from Iraq when it asks for "a full military withdrawal," and demands it should be carried out "quickly."

As much as we would like to see Iraq returned to its rightful owners with the least delay possible, reality calls for a slow and gradual withdrawal.