http://www.philstar.com/index.php?News%20Flash&p=54&type=2&sec=91&aid=2007062520Monday, June 25, 2007 02:43 PM
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The White House has begun exploring ways of offering the US Congress a compromise deal on Iraq that might involve greater decentralization of the country, The Los Angeles Times reported on its website Sunday.
Citing unnamed officials, the newspaper said President George W. Bush has authorized an internal policy review to find a plan that could satisfy opponents without sacrificing his top goals.
Some senior administration officials -- including Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and UN Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad -- have been quietly talking with lawmakers about how to adjust policy in the months ahead, the report said.
Among other ideas, they have discussed whether the United States should advocate a sharply decentralized Iraq, a notion that has seen a resurgence on Capitol Hill, according to the paper.
Leading congressional Republicans have signaled that they expect a new US course by September, when a key military assessment is due, The Times said.