Bush takes softer line on releasing Sept. 11 information

President Bush on Tuesday softened his line on the release of sensitive documents to the independent commission investigating government actions surrounding the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, indicating commission leaders might be able to see portions of the highly secret daily presidential briefing.

Commission officials-led by its chairman, former Gov. Thomas Kean, R-N.J.-reportedly are seeking sensitive documents such as the president's daily intelligence briefing. Bush and his aides Monday indicated they would continue working with the commission, but made no promises about the documents.

On Tuesday, in his first news conference since the end of July, the president emphasized the need to keep the daily briefing from becoming politicized or unnecessarily exposed. But he said he believed he could reach a "proper accord" with commission leaders to "protect the integrity of the daily brief process and at the same time allow them a chance to take a look and see what was in the ... daily briefs that they would like to see."

Bush added that Kean and the commission's vice chairman-former Rep. Lee Hamilton, D-Ind.-understood the importance of the daily briefings and would be mindful of the need for presidents to get "unfettered, real, good intelligence" from them.

Bush also pointedly did not restate his administration's threat to veto legislation providing some funds for Iraqi reconstruction in the form of loans, as the Senate bill would do. Bush said loans would burden Iraq, and that they would only be able to pay it back with oil.

But instead of demanding grants instead of loans, Bush said, "Hopefully, we'll get a good solution out of Congress on this issue." Many questions in the news conference focused on Iraq, where Bush claimed continuing progress. But he also acknowledged that the country remains "a dangerous place."

The president issued his standard laundry list of agenda items for Congress, but provided no new ideas or solutions for helping Congress complete its work. He did note that he is stepping up his own cheerleading effort, holding events related to the Medicare and energy bills this week.

Bush called for "greater job creation, by taking action to control the rising costs of health care, protecting businesses from junk lawsuits, by cutting needless and costly government regulations, by making permanent the tax cuts that have helped our economy." Congress should also "immediately" pass an energy bill and complete the Medicare conference. The president also asked senators to stop blocking approval of his judicial nominees.

Bush also was upbeat on the economy.

"Our economy is showing signs of broad and gathering strength," he said. "America's starting to add new jobs. Retail sales are strong, business profits are increasing, the stock market has been advancing, housing construction is surging, and manufacturing production is rising."