Daily Briefing: Questionable Reliability
•Administration officials privately acknowledge trouble with Iraq.Bush: "The recent violence in Iraq is a grim reminder of the brutal enemies we face in the war on terror." Retired GeneralMcCaffrey: "It's a race against time because by the end of this coming summer we can no longer sustain the presence we have now. . . The American people are walking away from this war." [ WP , USAT ]
• Bushexpresses sympathy forSheehan: "It breaks my heart to think about a family weeping over the loss of a loved one. I understand the anguish that some feel about the death that takes place." White House does not publicly disputeSheehan's characterization of her original meeting withBush. [ WP , NYT ]
• Abramoffis indicted on fraud charges by federal grand jury in Florida.Rothenberg: "It absolutely could play into the Democrats' national message. They are going to look for any and all ways to paint the Republicans as ethically challenged." [ WSJ , NYT ]
•NARAL will change its controversial anti-Robertsadvertisement. [ WP , NYT ]
•FBI prepares for a possible domestic terrorist attack around anniversary of 9/11; sources propose a plot that involves exploding fuel tankers. DHS flack: "The information is uncorroborated, and the source is of questionable reliability." [ NYT ]
•FEC criticizesDeLay's PAC for misstatements and irregularities. [ WP ]
• Robertsprovided confidential advice within theReaganadministration. [ NYT ]
•9/11 Commissioners are looking into pre-9/11 surveillance of hijackers by DoD. [ WP ]
•Many nominees to Pentagon jobs are stuck in the senate confirmation process. [ NYT ]