U.S. rethinking Iraqi unification goal

By ANNE GEARAN, AP Diplomatic Writer
Sat Dec 2, 3:32 AM ET

President Bush is becoming more personally involved in Iraq's fragmented politics as his administration reevaluates efforts to unite different Iraqi groups in an attempt to preserve U.S. options.

The administration is looking at ways to unite Iraq's fractious sectarian and political factions, officials familiar with an internal administration review of Iraq policy said Friday.

At the same time, the president is stepping up his personal diplomacy — meeting with a top Shiite power broker at the White House next week and with the nation's Sunni vice president in January.

The president is under pressure to find a new blueprint for U.S. involvement in Iraq, where sectarian violence has been growing worse. The meetings suggest that Bush wants to become more personally involved in trying to bring warring factions together.