Imagine, for a minute, that I have $2000 spending money. After looking around, I decide I can buy (1) a working used car, (2) furniture for my living room, OR (3) renovate my bathtub. I can only have one. Unable to decide, I choose to split the difference, and buy (1) a $200 car, (2) some old furniture (worse than what I already have) and (3) new bathroom mats. Whaddya think?

Although John F. Kennedy became popular after his assassination (JFK's election in 1960 was one of the closest in history up to that time; but after his assassination, two out of three Americans said that they had voted for him in 1960 -- one of these things is not like the other), he was known for trying to split the difference to keep everyone happy. "We'll stand firm against North Vietnam and topple the South Vietnamese government," "we'll train and transport fighters to Cuba to topple Castro, but not provide military support (and keep sending the CIA to assassinate Castro)," etc. Don't get me wrong, Kennedy was good when he went full bore, but he often chose not to go full bore.

The Iraqi Study Group apparently missed the important lessons of Kennedy's presidency. They've decided to make everyone happy, when in reality their suggestions will make no-one happy and be about as successful as the Bay of Pigs invasion.