By host Tom Ashbrook:

It was the week when the next shoe dropped on Iraq, but lightly, uncertainly. The President spoke. The orders for more troops have been given. But the sound of a rallied nation, even the Republican Party, marching behind the “new plan” was missing.

There were more hats in the ring for the ‘08 White House race this week, cheers in California for Schwarzenegger on health care, anger in New Orleans over the bad dream that won’t end, US bombs over Somalia, and a rocket in the Athens embassy.

Democrats have their higher minimum wage passed in the House. But over it all sat the grim view from Baghdad.

This hour On Point: top reporters, Jack Beatty, and you on the push and pushback on Iraq, and the news of a week.

Guests:

Andrea Mitchell, Chief Foreign Affairs correspondent for NBC Nightly News, author of “Talking Back …To Presidents, Dictators and Assorted Scoundrels”

Doyle McManus, Washington Bureau Chief for the Los Angeles Times

Jack Beatty, On Point News Analyst