New Iraq Strategy Includes a Shift in Rhetoric

WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 23, 2006 — -- A senior White House official told ABC News that President Bush has become increasingly worried about the situation in Iraq and has looked for ways to turn it around.

In a sign the administration is re-evaluating its own rhetoric on Iraq as the midterm elections approach, White House spokesman Tony Snow announced Bush would no longer use the phrase "stay the course."

"It allowed critics to say, 'Well, here's an administration that's just embarked upon a policy not looking at what the situation is,' when, in fact, it's just the opposite," Snow told reporters.

The comments came after Bush's weekend meetings with his top generals to address the increased violence in Iraq.

The president told CNBC today that he asked his generals, "What are we doing to adjust to the enemy?" and they offered options. When they presented some ideas, Bush said he told them, "My answer is, `You choose, and I support you.'"

A plan is being drawn that would create different benchmarks for success, including new markers with a timetable for the Iraqi government to force the militias to disarm, rid the Iraqi police of militias and require specific political and economic progress.

"What it is, is a way ahead so that … their government can have a set of tasks that they need to do to get prepared to assume the responsibility for governing their country," Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said.

At the same time, there is great concern among some military officials that things are not moving fast enough with this plan. One senior military officer told ABC News, "it's like coming up with remodeling plans while your house is burning down."