AP:

Incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Sunday he would support a temporary troop increase in Iraq only if it were part of a broader strategy to bring combat forces home by early 2008.

"If the commanders on the ground said this is just for a short period of time, we'll go along with that," said Reid, D-Nev., citing a time frame such as two months to three months. But a period longer than that, such as 18 months to 24 months, would be unacceptable, he said.

"The American people will not allow this war to go on as it has. It simply is a war that will not be won militarily. It can only be won politically," Reid said. "We have to change course in Iraq."

I'm not sure there's another way to play this.

Especially since it would take two to three months to get them over there in the first place.

For one thing, Bush is perfectly capable of putting the "surge" in place before Congress reconvenes in January.

For another, Bush retains his Commander-in-Chief powers.

And Reid is also inviting the Commanders to register their dissent even more strongly than they already have.