Lugar Gets A Meeting With White House Aides On Iraq

Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), whose comments on Iraq have caused a huge ruckus in the Capitol today just told reporters that the White House called him to ask for a meeting. Lugar would not say who he is meeting with or when it would happen, but all indications are that it will be National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and it will take place later in the week.

Lugar said that he had been working on his floor speech, which he delivered Monday night, for the last three weeks, and had shown other senators copies of the statement, although he did not inform the White House. The Indiana Republican also said he was not drafting any legislation or resolutions to express his own viewpoint on the war, at least not at this point.

Republicans are not sure themselves how to respond to Lugar's comments, and it's unclear now if it will change any votes on the war. One top Senate GOP aide said, "Well, it ain't Nixon going to China, but it means something. It means more than when [Sen. Chuck] Hagel (R-Neb.) came out against the war, although I am not sure how much more."