"New New" Strategy

Anyone surprised by this? Ask yourself--is this actually a new strategy? Or if you prefer, is it actually a different goal? Is the goal achievable, new strategy (er tactic) or not?

--If Congressional Republicans go lock-step for this (if Bush calls their bluff iow), then expect them to suffer historic defeats in Congressional '08 elections.

clipped from www.nytimes.com WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 — The White House plans to use a report next month assessing progress in Iraq to outline a plan for gradual troop reductions beginning next year that would fall far short of the drawdown demanded by Congressional opponents of the war, according to administration and military officials. One administration official made it clear that the goal of the planned announcement was to counter public pressure for a more rapid reduction and to try to win support for a plan that could keep American involvement in Iraq on “a sustainable footing” at least through the end of the Bush presidency. The officials said the White House would portray its approach as a new strategy for Iraq, a message aimed primarily at the growing numbers of Congressional Republicans who have criticized President Bush’s handling of the war.