(October 23, 2006)--President Bush has decided not to use the phrase "stay the course" any more to describe his Iraq policy.
White House Press Secretary Tony Snow says the phrase doesn't capture the "dynamism" of the tactics America and its allies are employing.
The announcement came two weeks ahead of an election in which Democrats are calling for a change of direction in Iraq.
The last time Mr. Bush used the phrase "stay the course" in a speech was Aug. 30 in Salt Lake City.
Since then, he's stressed that his administration's been adapting in Iraq as the enemy changes tactics.
Mr. Bush met again Monday morning with top national security aides.
But Snow says there's "nothing dramatically new" going on.
And he downplays reports the administration's drawing up new benchmarks for Iraqis to meet, saying both sides have been doing that for months.
