STAKING A CLAIM TO BUSH'S PEACE:

Bush to Detail Transition Monday in First of Several Iraq Speeches (Robin Wright and Mike Allen, May 20, 2004, Washington Post)

President Bush will lay out details of the U.S. plan for the Iraq transition at a major speech Monday in a bid to counter mounting public anxiety over the escalating violence and uncertainty less than six weeks before the handover of political power in Baghdad, according to U.S. officials.

Beginning with Monday's address at the Army War College, Bush will give a major speech on Iraq every week through June 30, when the U.S.-led coalition is due to turn over limited authority to a new interim Iraqi government. "We're entering a critical phase, and the president will be speaking out each week to discuss with the American people, and the world, the way forward in Iraq," said a White House official.

"Some speeches will have more details than others, and will be given at different places and times. All have the important goal of explaining the essential tasks at hand and the significance of June 30," the official added.

Enough supporters of the war--from John Kerry to the Weekly Standard--have gone wobbly that Mr. Bush has the rare opportunity to get sole credit for the victory of U.S. policy in Iraq.

Posted by Orrin Judd at May 20, 2004 8:25 AM