According to a new Harris Poll, a 62 percent majority of Americans think President Bush tends to paint a rosier picture of the situation in Iraq than is warranted. Following closely behind the President are Republican leaders, who could only muster a 17 percent share of Americans who think they get the news balance about right. On the other hand, when it comes to military leaders, the American public is slightly more positive, saying 39 percent put on a happy face, while 35 percent think they have the right answers. What about the Democrats? A majority (56 percent) of Americans believe the Dems are too negative in their assessments.
The Pentagon is counting on Congress to navigate a legislative tightrope and pass a party-line bill to fund nearly a quarter of its $1.5 trillion budget request for fiscal 2027, including billions of dollars for top priorities like Golden Dome, the F-35, munitions, and unmanned systems. Experts and lawmakers from…