Bush to announce revised Iraq policy before Christmas

President Bush is planning to outline a revised Iraq policy before Christmas, White House officials said Friday. Bush has not yet determined what the policy will be and is continuing a series of meetings with administration, congressional and other experts in what the White House describes as an effort to solicit input as he determines his "new way forward."

The president on Friday met with the congressional leadership, including outgoing House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., retiring Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and incoming Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin, D-Ill.

The group mainly discussed Iraq, and the Democratic leaders agreed to hold similar meetings with Bush on a regular basis to talk about Iraq and other issues. "I assured the leaders that the White House door will be open when the new Congress shows up," Bush told reporters after the session.

White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said there was general agreement that the White House and Congress should move from a political to a "governing road." Pelosi told reporters at the White House that "we all committed to work together in a bipartisan way."

In the run up to Bush's announcement of changes to his Iraq policy, the president will continue to consult with Congress and will meet next week with civilian and military Pentagon officials, State Department aides, and outside experts, according to the White House.

After Friday morning's meeting, Reid criticized Bush for not sounding enthusiastic about the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, which he received Wednesday.

"I just didn't feel today -- in his words or demeanor -- that he's willing to do anything right away," Reid told reporters. "Someone has got to get the message to this man that there has to be significant changes."

Snow said Bush would continue to take a "thoughtful look at the report" and that some of the recommendations track administration ideas. Snow noted that Durbin, while speaking to reporters at the White House after the session, said there would be objections to some of the recommendations on Capitol Hill.

Durbin also acknowledged that he did not agree with every suggestion. Democratic leaders have been reluctant to embrace the study group's proposals, but they insisted Friday they endorse the overarching principles that call for transforming U.S. military strategy.

Democrats are walking a tight rope on the issue -- they won the November elections because of their calls for change in Iraq, but they have been careful not to assume ownership of the situation and risk receiving the blame if the climate continues to worsen.

Greta Wodele contributed to this report.