Changing the course in Iraq?

A recently disclosed memo from former Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld on the eve of his resignation from office contains an admission the Bush administration's strategy was not working and his suggestions for improvement, including troop reductions "as well as a recasting of the U.S. mission and goals there, but [endorsing] no specific recommendations" (CNN.com). The defection of a "planner and defender of Bush's Iraq strategy" since before the U.S. actually invaded Iraq is another straw adding to the already-large pile of critical voices calling on Bush to severely shift his strategy.

Another article on CNN.com, summarizing this week's TIME cover story, surveys the chances of President Bush's finding a graceful exit strategy for Iraq. According to the article, Bush would have to make a reversal akin to "a personality transplant," given his staunch position in favor of staying the course in Iraq when confronted by the opposition -- virtually since the start of the war (CNN.com). On Wednesday, the Baker-Hamilton commission (Iraq Study Group) is expected to brief President Bush on their findings and then do the same for congressional leaders that same day. Speculation says that they will propose a restart to peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians and also propose an international conference. What exactly the panel will suggest (or, more to the point, what President Bush will carry out) remains unclear. It will, however, be "significantly different than what we've been doing..." according to a White House official (CNN.com).