A Very Slight Change in the Script

"Q Is the White House concerned about the protests that are planned in Salt Lake City today?

"MR. DUFFY: The President addressed that directly. He can understand that people don't share his view that we must win the war on terror, and we cannot retreat and cut and run from terrorists, but he just has a different view."

Live Online

I'll be Live Online tomorrow at 1 p.m. EDT, and I welcome your questions and comments.

Counterattack?

Nina J. Easton and Susan Milligan write in the Boston Globe: "Facing sagging public opinion polls and an increasingly spirited antiwar movement, the Bush administration and its allies this week launched a broad public relations offensive, with a presidential defense of the war -- including an acknowledgment of the conflict's mounting death toll -- and a caravan of supportive military families carrying their message to the Bush ranch in Texas. . . .

"Meanwhile, the Pentagon is increasing media access to soldiers in the field in an attempt to highlight their successes in Iraq. Administration officials fear that the deadly insurgency and reports of US deaths have overshadowed the progress made on the ground."

Mark Silva writes in the Chicago Tribune that "once again, a wartime president facing declining public support for the war is invoking 'the lessons of Sept. 11.' "

Iraq's Constitutional Problems

Yesterday's messy and controversial partially blown deadline by Iraqi political leaders to agree on a proposed constitution also required some careful White House spinning.

Bumiller writes: "Mr. Bush's speech appeared intended to capitalize on good news, the drafting of an Iraqi constitution. In his remarks, delivered as Iraqis were negotiating against a deadline, Mr. Bush hailed the constitution as a 'landmark event' in the Middle East. Hours after his address, Iraqi negotiators announced they had only a partial draft and were seeking more time. . . .

"After the Baghdad deadline and the president's speech, with major issues still unresolved in the constitution, the White House nonetheless issued a positive statement, calling the work in Baghdad 'impressive' and 'another step forward.'

Anne Gearan writes for the Associated Press: "With public support eroding for a war with no front lines and no end in sight, the Bush administration has prodded and pleaded and back-room arm-twisted for a deal.

"Iraqi leaders embarrassed Bush by blowing a second deadline Monday to complete the charter, a critical first step toward political stability and independence in Iraq and a marker on the path to an eventual U.S. exit. . . .

" 'Our military strategy is straightforward: As Iraqis stand up, Americans will stand down,' Bush said during a speech to veterans Monday, before the midnight deadline expired without a working charter.