Bush, Blair to meet to discuss Iraq

By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer
43 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - President Bush faces urgent pressure to find a fresh strategy in Iraq as a new defense secretary heads to the Pentagon and a scathing bipartisan commission report says his war policies have failed and that "time is running out."

The Iraq Study Group's report said the situation in Iraq was "grave and deteriorating" after nearly four years of bloodshed and more than 2,900 American deaths. The report gave weight to the president's talks on Thursday with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, his closest ally in the unpopular war.

Bush, possibly with counsel from Blair, could embrace some or all 79 of the Iraq Study Group's recommendations. The president also could ignore them and chart his own new course based on internal reviews being done at the Pentagon, State Department and the White House.

"It's clear that the present situation is not one that could be sustained or accepted," White House press secretary Tony Snow said Wednesday.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061207/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush

I wonder if the PM in waiting will sit in on the meetings? Anyone care to guess?

Bush, Blair to meet to discuss Iraq
By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer
5 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - President Bush meets with British Prime Minister Tony Blair at the White House today, a day after the release of the Iraq study group's report.

President Bush faces urgent pressure to find a fresh strategy in Iraq as a new defense secretary heads to the Pentagon and a scathing bipartisan commission report says his war policies have failed and that "time is running out."

The Iraq Study Group's report said the situation in Iraq was "grave and deteriorating" after nearly four years of bloodshed and more than 2,900 American deaths. The report gave weight to the president's talks on Thursday with Blair, his closest ally in the unpopular war.

Bush, possibly with counsel from Blair, could embrace some or all 79 of the Iraq Study Group's recommendations. The president also could ignore them and chart his own new course based on internal reviews being done at the Pentagon, State Department and the White House.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061207/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush

Blair to Bush: "I wish I knew how to quit you."

The Brits are somewhat upset that they didn't have a representative as part of the study group, and they are correct.