A year of change

President Bush, addressing a Republican-controlled Congress last year , spoke of decreasing troop levels in Iraq, confronting Iran, and aggressively pursuing terrorists at home. But now, with a Democratic Congress and plummeting poll numbers, the president faces a far different reality when he addresses the nation tonight.

Then:

The president said that as Iraqi forces increasingly take the lead, the United States should be able to decrease troop levels: "But those decisions will be made by our military commanders, not by politicians in Washington, " he said.

Now:

In his address to the nation less than two weeks ago, the president called for a "surge" of 21,500 troops.

Then:

Vowed to confront the threat of Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Now:

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran said Sunday that he would continue to ignore international sanctions, calling a United Nations Security Council resolution "a rusty instrument" that "has no effect."

Then:

Sought to reauthorize the Patriot Act.

Requested the authority to continue his domestic wiretap program.

Now:

The president signed a law reauthorizing the Patriot Act on March 9, 2006.

Last week, the administration said that domestic wiretapping would be overseen by judges.