[link|http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/25/the_skinny/main2973783.shtml|CBS News]

The Los Angeles Times tops its front page Monday with a report that the Bush administration is looking into offering Congress a compromise deal on Iraq, in a bid to avoid a continued political battle over the unpopular war.

The Times says President Bush has authorized an internal policy review to come up with a plan that satisfies war opponents while allowing President Bush to hold onto some of his top goals for Iraq.

It is obvious already that the surge plan isn't working. So Bush is trying to see if he can finagle some other plan to drag it out till after 2008. And he is trying to see if he can get the Democrats to sign up, since it will be much easier for Bush if the Democrats have some stake in the plan.

My fear is that the Democrats will get suckered by a plan that offers troop withdraw under conditions that will let Bush not actually do so. Rather like the current plans various benchmarks that are judged and certified by Bush alone.

Jay

I have come to the conclusion that it isn't so much a issue of numbers so much as the slow water torture of deaths. And by that count it isn't so important how many die so much as the stream be unbroken.

I suspect many in the Army and the White House hold the same position. It explains the strategy behind their attempts to manipulate the media.

Jay