[r9etb]

Well I just don't know what to say.

How 'bout, Psych!

The "consultation with Congress" clarification is proper, constitutionally correct, and good politics, too.

The "consultation with our allies" part is boilerplate, and probably good diplomacy. It won't make any difference if we decide something needs to be done.

The apparent backing-off from war talk is probably two things: first, it works to increase Iraqi confusion concerning our ultimate aims. Second, it impugns the NYT's "sources" for the "secret plans" they've been publishing. (I also suspect that the "immanent war" talk is mostly a case of media -- and DNC -- wishful thinking.)

[Diddle E. Squat]

I'm not convinced that this is 'an apparent backing off from war', which has the premise that we were on a path toward attacking soon. I continue to bet that it will be after the election before any major attack, for a variety of reasons. A few political, but primary logistical and strategical. Bush has always been on a course to first get our ducks in a row, and some housecleaning was clearly needed. Nothing has changed, other than the media starting to now figure that their jumping to conclusions(war anyday now) may once again have been in error.