Today the Bush administration faces rising criticism from hard-liners that its Iran policy is not stiff enough.

"The issue is a derivative of getting Arab support for Iraq and Iran policy," he said.

Hearings on trade and Iran policies were scheduled for this week.

For more than a year, a major debate over Iran policy has divided the administration.

Mr. Bush said he was never given a private briefing on the Iran policy.

"There are a lot of competing interests, and the coherence of our Iran policy is at stake."

But then what about his Iran policy?

They say that he remains irritated at what he considers unfair criticisms of his Iran policy.

"I will not be stepping out of Iran policy by any means."

Still, in their public opposition to Obama's Iran policy, the military commanders are playing one card before all others: Israel.