2 from International Herald Tribune:

[Drum]

Thurs 12/14 edition
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/12/13/news/policy.php

Bush vows not to rush on altering Iraq plans
By Brian Knowlton


WASHINGTON: : Winding up the semi-public portion of an intense Iraq policy review, President George W. Bush said Wednesday at the Pentagon that he would not be rushed into hastily rewriting U.S. strategy, but added that he had already rejected "ideas such as leaving before the job is done."

Meanwhile, a U.S. senator visited the Syrian president in Damascus to explore one policy option under review — opening talks on Iraq with Syria and Iran — and came away saying that he saw "a crack in the door for discussions to continue."

The senator, Bill Nelson of Florida, was the latest in a growing list of foreign envoys to visit the Syrian capital.

Bush, speaking after meeting with senior officers of all the military services, said: "I am listening to a lot of advice to develop a strategy to help you succeed. I will be delivering my plans after a long deliberation, after steady deliberation. I'm not going to be rushed into making a difficult decision."


(Drum thinks that W is waiting for God to show him a sign, a star in the sky, at Christmas....)

-------------------

And from yesterday:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/12/12/news/policy.php

Iraq deepens as Bush weighs his next move
Bush speech delayed until New Year to get review 'done right'
By Brian Knowlton
Published: December 12, 2006

WASHINGTON: As President George W. Bush on Tuesday continued his high-profile exploration of expert views on Iraq, several new opinion surveys showed a dramatic deepening of American pessimism about the war and the president's handling of it. The White House said Bush would delay a planned major speech on Iraq until the New Year.

The speech had been expected by the end of next week, but a White House spokesman said the delay should not be seen as a reflection of indecision or a major shift in direction.

snip
But as Bush continued his consultations — he spoke by videoconference to American military commanders in Iraq before conferring in person with the Iraqi vice president, and he was preparing for talks at the Pentagon on Wednesday — the opinion polls underscored the urgency of his search for "a new way forward."

Public opposition to this war has edged beyond the strongest levels registered to the Vietnam War, one poll indicated. Another survey pointed to a stunning collapse in support among the president's fellow Republicans for his conduct of the war.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. He sure is looking old and beat up these days...

Maybe his good pal Jack Daniels is wearing him out, or maybe it's the stress of having to ignore absolutely everybody.

In any event, he looks kind of like a tortoise.