SHAYS ON IRAQ: “EVERYTHING IS NOT GREAT”

ABC’s Teddy Davis reports: In his opening remarks at this morning’s Christian Science Monitor Breakfast, Rep. Chris Shays (R-CT) labored to convince reporters, who have thoroughly covered his call for a timeline for withdrawal of U.S. troops, that his criticisms of the way the war has been managed began long before Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT) lost his Democratic Senate Primary to anti-Iraq War challenge Ned Lamont.

"Everything is not great," Shays said of the situation in Iraq.

Shays said he doesn’t know if he is going to get reelected. But he lamented that no one has evaluated the merit of his call for a timeline for troop withdrawal.

"I think I know more about what is happening in Iraq than any member: House or Senate," said Shays. "I don’t say that boasting . . ."

DEVELOPING . . .