A roadside bomb hidden in garbage exploded Tuesday in eastern Baghdad and killed three people, police said.


WASHINGTON (HN) -- President Bush is expected to announce his new Iraq strategy in an address to the nation early next week, several sources in Washington told Headline News Tuesday.

Key points of the no-news News release.

1. "the president has not made any decisions."
2. "a plan is taking shape"
3. "getting more detailed"
4. "on the finer points."
5. "informal discussions about the year ahead"
   

However, the sources say he is "driving toward a conclusion" which is as the president puts it
"A plan in the hand is better than no plan.".

Last month, It was reported that Bush was considering sending in as many as 40,000 soldiers.

That would mean increasing troop levels to their highest point in the nearly four-year-old conflict to perhaps as many as 165,000.

Other reports indicated the U.S. troop increase would be closer to 20,000, with additional Iraqi forces making up the remainder of the "surge."

Meanwhile, there are several steps including consultations with Congress and the Iraqi government that will happen before any tactical changes in his Iraq war policy are made, administration officials said.

"Tomorrow, the president will meet with his cabinet to discuss the new Congress and domestic issues," said White House party spokesman Scott Stanzel on Tuesday.

Wednesday night "the president will host a bicameral, bipartisan reception with approximately a dozen members of Congress and their spouses," the White House party spokesman said.

The White House will conduct courtesy calls to members of Congress when Bush devises his final Iraq plan, the official said.

Bush has not yet briefed Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on his plan, but is expected to do so before addressing the nation.
However, administration officials have stressed they remain in "constant" contact with Iraqi officials.
Those calls will go out "within a couple of days" before Bush addresses the nation.