Baker hints at Iraq escape route

Photograph: Alex Wong/GettyJames Baker is in the middle of his own double act full of chutzpah. Not only is he plugging his new book - Work Hard, Study And Keep Out Of Politics, an account of a long career in politics - this most skilled of political operatives is also chairing a blue-ribbon panel that is expected to recommend a change of course in Iraq.

Mr Baker's recent TV appearances included one on Jon Stewart's Daily Show, an entertaining mix of politics and comedy, where he said there would probably be some things in the bipartisan group's report that the administration might not like.

The reappearance of the redoubtable Mr Baker, who served under three presidents, is irresistible fodder to political commentators. The syndicated columnists Steve and Cokie Roberts, like others, delve into the Freudian dynamics between Bush the elder and Bush the younger (referred to sometimes as 41 and 43) over Iraq, which boil down to this: The elder Bush thought the Iraq war was a bad idea but kept his mouth shut through family loyalty. Some of the elder Bush's coterie, however, were not so discreet, such as Brent Scowcroft.