Administration

Senior House and Senate Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), sent a letter to President Bush today condemning his Iraq policies and laying out a blueprint for how the U.S. should proceed in Iraq.

Policy suggestions include transitioning the mission, seeking political accommodation among Iraqis, restoring readiness to the Army and Marines Corps, dedicating more resources to Afghan and Pakistani security, and tackling broader challenges of regional stability.

See the letter after the jump. Read more...

President Bush called the recent spike in violence in Iraq "a defining moment in the history in Iraq," during an appearance with visiting Australian President Kevin Rudd.

The recent flare up has come as US and Iraqi forces are making a push to rout out Shiite militia strongholds in Baghdad and Basra.

"They are fighting some pretty tough characters... and yes, there's going to be violence, and that's sad," Bush said.

Per AP:

President Bush has invited Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas to the White House in an effort to give a kick to Mideast peace talks, the White House said Thursday.

The plan, which envisions talks around the beginning of May, was revealed to reporters on Air Force One by National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe, who was accompanying Bush on a flight to Dayton, Ohio.

"Details are still being worked out," said Johndroe, who added that the talks would be part of a continuing effort "to work with the Palestinians and the Israelis as well as other countries in the region in realizing a Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with Israel."

After President Bush blasted Congressional leaders in his speech on Iraq earlier today, Democratic Senate Leader Harry Reid has responded.

"Rather than criticizing Congress, President Bush should be working with us to hold the Iraqi government accountable. The President

President Bush defended questions from lawmakers of slow progress in Iraq in a speech Thursday. Video of the speech is after the jump.

"Some members of Congress decided the best way to encourage progress in Baghdad was to criticize and threaten Iraq's leaders while they're trying to work out their differences," Bush said. "But hectoring was not what the Iraqi leaders needed. What they needed was security. And that is what the surge has provided."

While conceding security gains have been made, Democrats have been questioning political progress and calling for a withdrawal. Read more...

According to an AP