European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 11, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                July 2007 stars and stripes Page 9 in the states official no change in Iraq strategy by Anne Gearan and Anne Flaherty the associated press Washington the White House is rethinking its diplomatic options in but will not reconsider its military strategy before an assessment from War command ers is presented in officials said president Bush top War Douglas Lute and Stephen went to Congress to assure Republican sup porters that a precipitate pullout of troops will not Lindsey Graham said members were told that Bush would Back them in fiercely opposing legislation by Carl a that would order troop withdrawals to Start in 120 Bush himself said tuesday he had no in Tention of succumbing to political pres during a visit to Ohio on he reiterated that troop Levels in Iraq will be decided by our commanders on the not by political figures in washing i fully understand that this is a difficult its hard on the american people but i will once again explain the consequences of he Graham told reporters the White House is looking at new ways to hasten Progress in two primary areas destroying Al Aida in Iraq and forcing the govern ment in Baghdad to make political Graham i think youre going to find a United front at the White House and to give David Petraeus the time he needs to do nothing to undercut the surge of Graham a key Progress report being briefed to members of Congress thursday will say the iraqi government has not met any of its tar gets for Reform but has made some Progress in about More than a Hal dozen including tamping Down violence in Anbar who took control of con Gress from Bush Republican party last said the Only Way Baghdad and its neighbors would take More responsibility in Iraq would be if the starts to pull Levin wants legislation that would order Bush to begin pulling out troops in four months and end combat by april the measure would allow for some troops to remain to conduct train the iraqi Security forces and protect there is much too Little pressure on iraqi leaders to do what they have to said chairman of the armed services White House spokesman Tony Snow ear punch for ins rofl lines Lier tuesday played Down the significance of the report coming later in the Call ing it Only a look at the starting line of the troop Levins offered As an Amend ment to a billion defense policy is expected to fail because republicans say they still oppose setting a timetable on troop but in a sign that Republican frustration with the War is Gordon Smith said he would cosponsor Levins measure and Olympia a Republic said she was considering switching her position and backing the re publican Chuck Hagel was consid ered another Likely Susan Ben Nelson and other moderates said they were considering an alternative proposal that would demand an end to combat and allow troops to con duct Only a narrow set of the measure would not identify a what Many of us Are looking for is a new strategy that would not be a precipitous pullout with All of the problems that would but rather a plan to exit Over the next said a John upon his return from defended Bush contend ing reinforcements had Only just recently been put in i believe that our military in cooperation with our iraqi Security forces Are Mak ing Progress in a number of the re publican presidential contender not ing specifically a dramatic drop in attacks in ramada in the Western Anbar to show enlists guard to design custom chopper stars and stripes the National guard is looking for a few gear Heads to help them design a custom motorcycle for one of Cable televisions most popular the guard will be featured on an upcoming episode of the learning channels american chopper which revolves around a bickering family of motorcycle Cus atomizers in Orange according to guard guardsmen particularly those downrange Are being asked to help come up with a National guard theme and design for a chopper that will be built on the the Competition is open to All current guardsmen ranked e8 and warrant officer 1 through or 01 through the Winner must also have at least one year left on their enlistment or and should be available to travel try for the filming of the if travel is not the Winner will participate via video teleconference or entry forms can be found at Iso Ogo or Virt alarm two National guard web the deadline for entry is Midnight july each entry must be accompanied by a 200word essay describing the theme and and telling Why the applicant should be entries should include a Short biography and photo of the for More information on the email 1st class Lisa Merrill at  or visit the web workers return after budget Deal coming 1 o a r h e a t t n l a r you the associated press thou Sands of state workers who were sent Home without pay were Back on the Job tuesday after the governor and legislators hammered out a budget nearly government employees were furloughed Mon and state state run drive License offices and other nonessential services closed for the Day amid a partisan deadlock that held up a state spending plan nine Days into the new fiscal after weeks of Sharp rhetoric and Days of frantic both democratic de Rendell and Republican legislators claimed Victory with the Deal announced monday Rendell outlined Progress on issues rang ing from health care and transportation to Energy and Republican lawmakers boasted that they had beaten Back seven proposed tax and fee this is an agreement where All sides can say that they achieved some of their and that probably a Good budget Rendell while the new budget int yet Rendell ordered state employees Back to confident that hell soon have the signed documents to be Able to pay the employees on fur Lough monday lost wages of according to re delts of fice of critical services such As health care for the state police patrols and prisons remained in they should really try to compensate us for being they should try to give us Miriam a clerk in the courts department at the state department of transport said tuesday in a single Parent and i have nothing to fall Back so that was a pretty devastating time for me not knowing if i was going to have the state budget was estimated at close to what democrats had an in crease of less than 4 percent of the previous the total does not include More than million in last years budget for mass transit that will be moved into a special fund for the same Rendell said new spending on highways and mass transit will average a total of million a year Over the next de to be paid for by a toll hike on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in 2009 and tolls on interstate Rendell