That's the headline in today's American News.
''It was very helpful to get the briefing about what is happening in the short-term because of how important the political situation is there,'' Herseth said after the meeting.
She said the discussion was led by California Rep. Jane Harman, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, and Missouri Rep. Ike Skelton, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee.
Herseth said the Democrats questioned the president and Rice on what kind of role the State Department would have after the elections.
There was also a ''healthy degree of skepticism'' among Democrats about actual preparedness levels of Iraqi soldiers, she said.
Bush appeared to acknowledge some flaws in his war strategy, Herseth said.
''There have been changed tactics, there has been an articulation of that by the president,'' Herseth said.
At the risk of dooming Rep. Herseth in her own party, this all sounds very reasonable to me.
Sen. Johnson also gets a mention:
South Dakota Sen. Tim Johnson was one of 40 Democratic senators who sent a letter to Bush on Wednesday calling on him ''to make 2006 a year of transition in Iraq.''
The months following today's elections will be critical in Iraq's effort to form a stable government, the senators wrote. They also asked the president to lay out a more detailed plan for the war.
Apparently refusing to sign the Senate Democrat's letter to the president were moderates Joe Lieberman (D-CT), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Kent Conrad (D-ND). It is interesting that all four are up for re-election next year.
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