Finally, Bush asks someone besides his Staff (sycophants) for ideas and advice:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush, who has been criticized for consulting with only a tight circle of trusted aides, is soliciting the views of former secretaries of state and defense, some of whom have doubted his Iraq policy.

The group will meet Bush on Thursday and will be briefed by Gen. George Casey, the U.S. commander in Iraq, as well as Zalmay Khalilzad, the American ambassador there.

"The president initiated an effort to broaden the outreach," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. "It is an opportunity to talk about our plan for victory in Iraq, and the progress we're making and the challenges ahead."

At the meeting will be former Secretaries of State: Colin Powell (Bush Jr.), Madeleine Albright (Clinton), Lawrence Eagleburger (Bush Sr.), James Baker(Bush Sr.), George Shultz (Reagan) and Alexander Haig (Reagan).

Also attending will be former Secretaries of Defense: William Cohen (Clinton), William Perry (Clinton), Frank Carlucci (Reagan), Harold Brown (Carter), James Schlesinger (Nixon), Melvin Laird (Nixon), and Robert McNamara (Kennedy/Johnson).

With this mob of former statesmen and advisors, surely all would have to agree that Bush will finally be getting some diverse opinions and advice. I think this is just a PR move by Bush, but it will surely shore up any complaints about the monopoly the “war hawks” have had on holding Bush’s ear.

What I wouldn’t give to be a fly on the wall in that room. With no cameras and/or reporters there, I’d be interested to hear some of the REAL opinions expressed there by the supposed “experts.”

I do find it reassuring that our President is not so proud as to essentially admit that he could use some council though.