The group concluded conditions in Iraq are “grave and deteriorating,” calling on the United States to work with other leaders in the region on a strategy for stability in Iraq. The report also recommended a phased withdrawal of U.S. troops by 2008, greater emphasis on training Iraqi forces, and new methods for holding Iraq accountable.

“Now is the time for President Bush to dramatically change his Iraq policy and provide the American people with a new direction. I am encouraged by the recommendations of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, and hope they serve as a blueprint for a new military strategy in Iraq.

Now is the time for the United States to recognize this conflict as an international problem and reach out to leaders of neighboring countries. As the study group concluded, this is the only way to minimize conflict in a region where opposing factions stretch across geographic boundaries.

The United States military must also begin a comprehensive transfer of power. Although our military has worked hard to stabilize the region, Iraq must accept responsibility for the challenges that lie ahead. Our progress is defined by our ability to break the cycle of dependence on U.S. forces.

While the Iraq Study Group may not have all the answers, it provides a good start to a long-overdue discussion about the future of Iraq. I hope this report brings my colleagues on both sides of the aisle together to provide the American people and our military families with the leadership they deserve.