Was this staged to bolster the administration's stand on Iraq? The White House was asked why any coaching was needed. Officials noted the satellite delay-.

And apart from all the urgent loss the President's legacy is on the line as well. Not only in how he's perceived as handling Katrina but also on that major task, filling those two Supreme Court vacancies. David.

Good morning, Katie. Now in advance of tomorrow's referendum vote in Iraq, the White House held this event and described it as a way to highlight that milestone and to thank the troops. Now in addition to the President talking about U.S. policy there, they handed the microphone to soldiers and that's the part that got interesting. A question-and-answer session via satellite.

We wanted to have a look at the younger players and those that hadn't got a regular game during the year.

Even an Iraqi soldier participated.

The White House had said the soldier's comments were not pre-screened, expressing only their opinions. The larger context of all this, President Bush has found the war's cost an increasingly tough sell at home. Here he called on soldiers to help make the case.

It's the greatest race I could win being from Ohio and I've been doing this all my life.

When they were pulling up to the paddock, he fell, ... I thought he just stumbled.