Bush Seeks Advice On Iraq

(CBS/AP)  President Bush on Monday opened intensive consultations on Iraq, aiming to reverse the course of the nearly 4-year-old war and energize his final two years in office.

Mr. Bush went to the State Department to review diplomatic and political options the latest in a series of consultations that dominate his agenda.

Later, in the Oval Office, he was to seek advice from a handful of experts, including Stephen Biddle of the Council of Foreign Relations, Eliot Cohen of the School of Advanced International Studies and three retired Army generals: Wayne Downing, Jack Keane and Barry McCaffrey.

"Like most Americans, this administration wants to succeed in Iraq because we understand success in Iraq would help protect the United States in the long run," Mr. Bush said after his State Department briefing.

Today's trip to the State Department was a highly public visit designed to show that Mr. Bush is at least listening to other opinions about a new course, reports CBS News White House correspondent Jim Axelrod.

But Americans believe the war in Iraq is going badly and getting worse, and think it's time for the United States either to change its strategy or start getting out, according to a new CBS News poll.

The White House remained tightlipped on how Mr. Bush is likely to change strategy, saying the president is awaiting reports from his national security team before announcing a plan to the nation. That is expected to happen before Christmas.

The president said his aim is to coordinate advice from his diplomatic and military advisers "so that when I do speak to the American people, they will know that I've listened to all aspects of government."

On Tuesday, Mr. Bush will meet via video conference with senior military commanders, then talk with Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi in the Oval Office. On Wednesday, he will confer with senior defense officials at the Pentagon.

Since the election, lawmakers of both parties have been to the White House to discuss the war with Bush.

White House spokesman Tony Snow said he saw no "gigantic difference" in the pace of public strategy sessions on the president's schedule. But he added that Mr. Bush's travels to the State Department and the Pentagon sent a message.

"It's important that the American people be aware both of his consultation and his level of concern about getting it right," Snow said.

More than 2,900 U.S. military members have died in Iraq. The war has weighed down the Bush presidency and helped shift control of Congress to the Democrats, who have long accused President Bush of being stubborn and isolated. According to Kenneth Sherrill, professor of political science at Hunter College in New York, "The reason why [President Bush] is in such a bad situation is that the Republicans in Congress have to run for re-election. He doesn't. They're not under any pressure to be loyal to him. They're under pressure to keep their jobs."

Monday in Missouri, outgoing U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan critiqued the Bush administration's Iraq policy in his last major speech before he leaves office.

The administration has rejected calls for troop withdrawals until Iraq can govern and defend itself, warning that retreat could create a haven for terrorists and kill a fledgling democracy.

"I don't think he's looking for an easy answer. He's looking for the right answer. And the right answer isn't one person's idea," said Republican strategist Ron Kaufman, who worked in the White House under Bush's father.

"If some retired general or some historian can add to the final solution, then he's doing the right thing," Kaufman said.

At the State Department, President Bush met with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her senior advisers on Iraq, and with diplomats who serve as leaders of U.S. joint civilian-military units called provincial reconstruction teams.

The U.S. ambassador, Zalmay Khalilzad, participated by videoconference. "It was a good give and take," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said. "The president had questions throughout the entire set of briefings."

Afterward, Mr. Bush delivered a statement but took no questions in the Treaty Room, with Rice and Vice President Dick Cheney standing behind him. Looming behind them all were portraits of two former secretaries of state, James A. Baker III and Lawrence Eagleburger — both members of a bipartisan commission that has bluntly told Bush his Iraq policy is not working.

President Bush's public remarks echoed his previous statements and gave no indication of any change of strategy.

[ejikemesub]

i know that what ever is put mind in doing will reach at the end of it. that is the achievement of goals.what is moving on is the important of things in achievement of it, take a step and make a gain of it, but think wise as wise man and make a distinction of it.strateges is base on the record of it to get the availabe and capable ones for it.but looking arround of it make an eye to fear but work towards of it make a great achievement.that is making a goal to it.

[bushrocks1]

Would I send my son to this war? You might ask would I send him to World War II? Or Vietnam? Maybe you would distinguish those conflicts and whether you would send your son to fight in them. But that question is misdirected in a very important way: I can't command my son to go to war. He has to make that choice. So the better question would be: would I volunteer to fight in Iraq, WW II, Vietnam? Would I volunteer to fight in any war? Respond if drafted? I don%u2019t know. I'm not equivocating, only addressing that it is a hypothetical. To a hypothetical, I can answer, sure I'd fight. But I have nightmares of battle (from my past life as a Jacobite). So how do I feel toward those who do volunteer? Impressed and maturely knowing that many things go into their decision. But I do strongly believe that a country that can't find those men is doomed. The fact that we can find them is one reason why I say there is no failure in Iraq. Objectively, I also believe it for other reasons. An attempt to establish democracy in the Middle East is a bold, brilliant, noble effort, facing a high chance of failure. That's why I greatly respect and admire those who have made the attempt--the Bush administration. They have been resolute, something I have not seen in my lifetime. They may not succeed, for reasons outside their control or fault: traitors on the home front. Now those traitors have occupied the high ground. Yet... we're still in Iraq; the President hasn%u2019t been impeached. Why?...I'm waiting.

[neworder2-2009]

The "Knights Templar" Christian Monk/Warrior invasion of Islam was over 900 years ago and they actually seized and occupied Jerusalem. This order was the first multi-national corporation and the largest financial insitution in Europe. Sound familiar? Will the journalists please start asking some "real" questions? Why don't you start with our monetary system. Who owns the FEDERAL RESERVE? Which family dynasty controls the FEDERAL RESERVE? Will someone please show the amount of paper that is printed (created out of nothing) and loaned to our US Government to go to WAR, and then show who benefits from the interest charged on the paper and individuals that are yielding the gains. Please include the dollar amounts. Go ahead and list the arms dealers and their profits and to whom they are sold. War is exspensive and thats big business for the international bankers. The entire monetary system and process should be outlined online and should have the entire orgnizational chart viewable real-time, and don't forget to list the names and photographs of the humans that are making it all happen for us. Maybe if they are held accountable for yielding a few trillion off of our young men and women they may decide to do somehting for the the greater good of our Earth and Humankind vs. aquiring more paper.

Technology is going to bring the world together and hydrogen will replace oil to help build communities from the inside out.

[ubikvalis2]

I'm sure Bush will keep seeking advice until he finds some bobbleheads that will tell him to just keep doing everything the way he has been.

[ubikvalis2]

I'm sure Bush will keep seeking advice until he finds some bobbleheads that will tell him to just keep doing everything the way he has been.

[swingalong]

The headline reads "Bush seeks advice." What a laugh. This sick child never listens. He can't. He is incapable of it. Watch him fail again. And we all pay. He should be held accountable.

[pattipace7]

Since our board of education made war-strategy 101 a pre-requisite to graduation we suddenly have way to many people who know how the war in Iraq should be played out. Guess our educated military leaders with experience really don%u2019t understand the situation. Either way if our blue print for war keeps getting printed in the worldwide news with no hidden strategies we will never win. I don%u2019t believe we%u2019ll loose, we%u2019ll just keep on fighting and fighting. I realize everyone is demanding to know what is going to happen, but some things are better left unsaid.

[patriotic9]

We are all different but we are all Americans.Differences in opinions are not a bad thing at all but whoever shows his or her opinion should bring reasons to support them and that's something which shows who is sane and who is insane.Again,it was really nice talking to you like the first day.I had a lot of fun and hope you did too.GOOD BYE and HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[wayfedup]

Point of Order, dude; YOU and I are Nothing alike!

[patriotic9]

I know you are tired but just one last thing.There is another discrimination in our country caused by RELIGIOUS PEOPLE.We need to raise our voices against that too.That is discrimination on the basis of GENDER.
A man is legally allowed to walk,jo,or run onthe street completely TOPLESS but if a FEMALE comits the same action,she may get arrested on the name of INDECENT EXPOSURE.The same behavior which is completely decent for a man is so INDECENT for a woman BECAUSE OF BEING A WOMAN,that she may get arrested.I am gonna raise my voice against this discrimination in the near future.I'll need the support of all my fellow citizens like you.I hope one day our country will be a free open minded society like HOLLAND,DENMARK,etc.No Amercian will be discriminated anymore and everybody will be living with equal rights.I'll need support of my fellow citizens like you.Thanks and HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.