Bush U-turn as 'surge' sceptic to oversee war - Independent Online Edition > Americas
Bush U-turn as 'surge' sceptic to oversee war - Independent Online Edition > Americas: "The White House has sidelined the main proponent of 'troop surge' in Iraq in what looks a tacit acceptance that, after several months, the much-vaunted strategy is not working.
Final responsibility for guiding President George Bush on conduct of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has been shifted from his National Security adviser, Stephen Hadley, and handed instead to his new war tsar, Lt-Gen Douglas Lute, who has long voiced doubts about the surge.
In a Senate confirmation hearing into his appointment, General Lute revealed that from now on, Mr Hadley would guide the President on 'matters outside Iraq and Afghanistan'. But he added that Mr Hadley would be his 'teammate' on Iraq.
Even so, the news that Mr Hadley has surrendered primacy on Iraq looked like a palace coup coming to light as President Bush was abroad at the G8 meeting, with Mr Hadley. More important are the implications for a possible change of tack on Iraq at the White House."
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