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Weasel Daschle trying to save face:

"The Associated Press
Saturday, March 22, 2003; 12:39 PM

Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle said he is encouraged by the progress of the war in Iraq but is not sure how long it will last.

"We are encouraged that things are going so successfully," Daschle said.

Daschle's comments came Friday after President Bush briefed Daschle and the rest of the congressional leadership on the war's progress at the White House.

Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., agreed that the war seems to be going well. But when it comes to briefings, the American people probably know as much as their congressional delegation, Johnson said.

"I can't think of a briefing yet where it wasn't all in the media the next day," Johnson said.

Johnson has been wearing a blue star on his suit, signifying that he is the parent of someone at war. His son, Brooks, in participating the war with Iraq as a member of the 101st Airborne Division.

Daschle said he could not say much about briefing information regarding the status of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, who was targeted on the first night of the conflict, or the authenticity of the televised statement by Saddam that was aired after the attack.

"I say personally that there is a question about whether or not the interview with him was taped before of after the strike, though," Daschle said. "There is some understandable skepticism about whether it was pre-taped or not."

In addition to giving an update on the war, Bush also thanked Daschle, D-S.D, and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist for their resolution backing the administration. Daschle and Frist wrote the Senate version of the resolution, which was passed unanimously Thursday.

"He thanked us for that bipartisan support of the resolution, without dissent, saying we support our troops and our commander-in-chief," Daschle said.

Daschle has been criticized for comments he made recently in which he blamed the war on a lack of diplomacy by the Bush administration.

Daschle said he has not discussed those comments with the president. He said he stands by those comments and that Republican objection over those comments has subsided.

"It has really totally disappeared," Daschle said. "I think people have turned to the war itself and the unity we want to demonstrate for our troops." "

© 2003 The Associated Press