Recent US elections fueled the Democrats' argument that US soldiers need to start coming home, a move some believe would force the Iraqis to take care of their own security needs.

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Beyond Iraq and Afghanistan, the president is grappling with other flash points that are testing his foreign policy decisions. Iran and Syria are flexing their muscles in the Middle East. Tehran has refused to give up its nuclear programs. The cease-fire in Gaza is fragile. The assassination of an anti-Syrian leader in Lebanon last week undermined the nation's young, Western-backed government.

The president believes all these hotspots are rooted in a struggle between moderation and extremism.

One of the biggest issues facing al-Maliki and the new unity government in Iraq are militias that have pledged allegiance to an anti-American cleric named Muqtada al-Sadr.

Al-Maliki is trying to rally moderates in Sunni, Shia and Kurd communities into the unity government and give them - through the training of security forces - enough strength to go after radical elements that refuse to become part of the political process, Bush's national security adviser, Stephen Hadley, said.

Iraqi officials say the United States wants other Sunni governments in the area, such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt, to persuade moderate Sunnis in Iraq to line up with al-Maliki. That would give him political clout he needs to challenge Sadr's militias.

Those three governments also are urging the United States to resume its role as mediator in the long-festering conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians, an issue that prejudices relations throughout the region.

Besides hearing from al-Maliki, Bush was awaiting recommendations on how to handle Iraq from the Pentagon and a bipartisan panel, led by former Secretary of State James Baker III and former Rep. Lee Hamilton, D-Ind. The group is expected to suggest engaging Syria and Iran in efforts to calm tensions in Iraq.

Bush so far hasn't embraced the idea of talking with two nations it regards as pariah states working to destabilize the Middle East.

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