Changes in Iraq policy seem inevitable

By TOM RAUM, Associated Press Writer
28 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Make no mistake about it, change is coming in President Bush's Iraq policy. After stubbornly pursuing a stay-the-course policy into a fourth year of war, Bush is being told it's time for a new direction — by everyone from U.S. voters and a blue-ribbon panel to his own national security adviser and ousted defense secretary.

The big question is, how far is Bush willing to bend? And can he be persuaded to change a policy he's never seemed to doubt?

"I'm listening to the Iraqis, I'm going to listen to members of Congress, I want to listen to Baker-Hamilton," Bush told Fox News Channel about upcoming recommendations, including those due Wednesday from the prestigious Iraq Study Group headed by former Secretary of State James A. Baker III and former Rep. Lee Hamilton, D-Ind.

"My attitude is I ought to absorb and listen to everything that's being said because I'm not satisfied with the progress being made in Iraq," the president said Monday.

Bush faces some difficult choices. >>>cont

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