WP: At WH Meeting, No Big Changes on Iraq; NYT timetable story denied

At White House Meeting, No Big Changes on Iraq
By Michael A. Fletcher
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, October 22, 2006; Page A08


Clockwise from bottom left, President Bush, national security adviser Stephen J. Hadley, deputy national security adviser J.D. Crouch, State Department Iraq adviser David Satterfield, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, Gen. John P. Abizaid and Gen. Peter Pace, head of the Joint Chiefs. (By Eric Draper-White House)

President Bush met with his top advisers and military commanders on Iraq yesterday in a White House session that, senior officials said, weighed options for forging a way forward amid the surging violence but did not contemplate any major shifts in strategy.

The participants in the 90-minute video conference -- who included Vice President Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad and Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the military commander in Iraq -- talked about tactical changes that could overcome the severe challenges posed by the war, officials said....

***

The meeting, which the White House called the third in a series Bush has held with this group to consult on the war, did not consider any significant policy changes, a senior official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss private meetings. And in his Saturday radio address, Bush offered no indications on any major shift, even as he acknowledged the increasing violence in Iraq.

"Our goal is clear and unchanging: Our goal is victory," he said. "What is changing are the tactics we use to achieve that goal. Our commanders on the ground are constantly adjusting their approach to stay ahead of the enemy, particularly in Baghdad."...

***

White House officials denied a New York Times report, posted yesterday afternoon on the newspaper's Web site, that said the administration is drafting a timetable for the Iraqi government to take on that greater role in securing the country....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/21/AR2006102100360.html

Silly "little people" with their transference and all that.

But with the press in our pocket, we'll spin a point or two out of this.

money grubbing bloody fingered bastards.

I was pretty sceptical when I read they might be thinking things over, developing new ideas and strategies. Because that would have meant that they would have to admit they were WRONG, and that ain't gonna happen.

bush** gets his guidance directly from God don't ya know?

but to have to do anything publicly, that they will never do of their own free will. That's why Dumbya wants to leave it for the next President. He may have to leave office just so he can get out from under Iraq--no dictator for life! This may be the only silver lining (aside from the complete destruction of the GOP) in this mega-cloud that's hung over us these past 6 years!

Well, I am glad Bush is on top of this now, and that the situation requires only slight tactical adjustments. It seems more serious than that to me, but I am not a real smart genius like the guys in charge. I didnt even think the war was a good idea. So you can see how out to lunch I am.