GOP senators call for changes in Iraq strategy, including withdrawal

? Two Republican senators widely respected for their experience in foreign and military affairs – Sens. Richard Lugar of Indiana and John Warner of Virginia – on Friday called on the Bush administration to start planning for diplomatic and military changes in Iraq – including a withdrawal of forces.

President Bush has asked Congress to hold off on calling for changes in Iraq policy until Sept. 15, when a report is due from Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker. Bush has said the increase of 30,000 troops needs more time to stabilize the war-torn nation. But Lugar said that’s no reason to wait to start planning.

“The surge must not be an excuse for failing to prepare for the next phase of our involvement in Iraq, whether that is withdrawal, redeployment or some other option,” he said. “We saw in 2003, after the initial invasion of Iraq, the disastrous results of failing to plan adequately for contingencies.”

The Lugar-Warner amendment would require the administration to present its post-September Iraq plans to Congress, including a reduction in force levels, by Oct. 16, and design them so that they can be put into action by Dec. 31.

It also would call on the Bush administration to send Congress a new rationale for military involvement in Iraq in September and to set up a regular meeting with countries from the Middle East on Iraq.

The White House said the Bush administration would review the Lugar-Warner plan.

“We believe the new way forward strategy, which became fully operational less than a month ago, deserves the time to succeed. We look forward to hearing from General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker in September,” said White House spokesman Tony Fratto.

The Senate is expected to vote next week on an amendment to a defense bill by Sens. Carl Levin, D-Mich., and Jack Reed, D-R.I., that requires the beginning of a withdrawal in 120 days after enactment. It also would limit the American military mission beginning on April 1 to fighting terrorists, training Iraqis and protecting Americans in Iraq.

The House of Representatives voted 223-201 largely along party lines Thursday for a similar plan.

A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Reid appreciated that Warner and Lugar had expressed their discontent with current Iraq policy, but preferred the Democratic amendment because it would require a change of policy by force of law.