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.)
1. Propaganda to put Iraq back to sleep before a real strike (Turkey is getting ready for war, remember?)
2. Real backing off, in which case a single Scud into Israel will forever give Bush the most powerful case for future adventures, "I told you so before, but you didn't believe me then either!"
3. He saw my article at http://www.glorywatch.com/gulfwariifinaldestiny.htm and decided he didn't want to lose.
4. All the hype was to get Iraq to preempt American forces and give Israel and America all the excuse they ever needed- but it didn't work.
Saddam wins.