Lute is sure to be confirmed as war czar. But the testimony the Senate Armed Services Committee clearly wishes it had is that of National Security Adviser Steve Hadley. Under questioning from Sen. John Warner (R-VA) and Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Lieutenant General Doug Lute furiously backpedaled from his earlier statement that Hadley won’t be the president’s principal adviser on Iraq:
Apparently unconvinced, Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) got Lute to explain that he’ll be the one who prepares President Bush’s daily brief on Iraq — but, he added, he’ll “coordinate” that effort with Hadley. Since Bush famously prefers to be briefed in person, that’s at least one area where Hadley loses out. Someone should hire a coordinator. Oh, wait…
