On Hardball at around 2 p.m. Pacific, NBC News Washington bureau chief Tim Russert reported that in a briefing with television news anchors this morning, Pres. Bush said that in his speech to the nation tonight he will announce that Iraq and the United States are discussing forming a long-term security arrangement similar to pacts the United States has with Israel and South Korea.

Hardball host Chris Matthews said that a security agreement would likely keep American troops in Iraq for decades to come.