Tonight's the Night

George Bush unveils his Iraq plan this evening amidst growing rancor on Capitol Hill and in front of a national audience that is weary with the prospect of further escalation in Iraq.

Bush's Iraq approval rating is now at 26%. A new record low. And his overall approval rating is at about 37% 61% of Americans are against a troop level increase.

While Bush considered his options over nearly three months, the number of U.S. military deaths in Iraq passed 3,000, and Saddam was hanged for atrocities committed under his leadership.

"American voters expect us to help get us out of Iraq," said Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.), a 2008 presidential hopeful and chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee that heard independent experts on Iraq.
Republicans, too, were restless. "I do not want to embarrass the president, but I do not support a surge" in troops, said Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.), who said he had told Bush as much last week."