"It is too soon for a verdict." Those are the words President Bush chose in response to a recent interview question by a prestigious talkshow host about the success of his new Iraq strategy. At the same time, a new think tank report tried to beef up the American security offensive with new recommendations for the next phase of the new Bush strategy. To many in Washington, however, the war in Iraq seems already lost. After months of rangling between the Democratic majority in Congress and the White House, the showdown between the legislative and executive branch of the U.S. government reached a dramatic climax in Washington this week.(Commentary in German)