President Bush is meeting today-Thursday with his top defense and foreign policy teams to discuss issues including troop levels in Iraq and nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea.
Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice are due to take part in the talks at Mr. Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas.
The annual meeting at the ranch comes at a time when Mr. Bush's approval ratings have fallen below 50 percent, with a growing number of Americans opposed to the war in Iraq.
The Pentagon's chief spokesman, Lawrence Di Rita, said Monday that the United States might increase the number of forces in Iraq later this year to improve security. About 140,000 U.S. troops are serving in Iraq.
