Iraq Turning Point?

Senate Republicans Pushing for a Plan on Ending the War in Iraq - New York Times

Interesting ... and also about 4 months behind the DLC on this point. I guess not everyone got through Larry Diamond's "Squandered Victory" as fast as some others, though.

Here's the jist from the Times:

The proposal on the Iraq war, from Senator Bill Frist, the majority leader, and Senator John W. Warner, Republican of Virginia, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, would require the administration to provide extensive new quarterly reports to Congress on subjects like progress in bringing in other countries to help stabilize Iraq. The other appeals related to Iraq are nonbinding and express the position of the Senate.

The plan stops short of a competing Democratic proposal that moves toward establishing dates for a phased withdrawal of troops from Iraq. But it is built upon the Democratic approach and makes it clear that senators of both parties are increasingly eager for Iraqis to take control of their country in coming months and open the door to removing American troops.

Mr. Warner said the underlying message was, "we really mean business, Iraqis, get on with it." The senator, an influential party voice on military issues, said he did not interpret the wording of his plan as critical of the administration, describing it as a "forward-looking" approach.

"It is not a question of satisfaction or dissatisfaction," he said. "This reflects what has to be done."

"We really mean business ... Iraqis?" I'm sure he means President Bush since there's no reporting requirement of success that the Iraqi government has to file.

Still, better late than never. Credit the Senate GOP for realizing there's an election next year and things aren't looking terribly good for their side.