June 27, 2007 (LPAC)--Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio), a leading member of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, today released a June 26 letter to President Bush, which calls for a comprehensive plan for military disengagement from Iraq.

Voinovich's break with Bush's policy follows a call two days ago by Sen. Richard Lugar, the senior Republican on the Foreign Affairs Committee, who said our Iraq policy is failing.

Wrote Voinovich: "[W]e must begin to develop a comprehensive plan for our country's gradual military disengagement from Iraq, and a corresponding increase in responsibility to the Iraqi government and its regional neighbors. ... A policy of responsible military disengagement with a corresponding increase in non-military support is the best way to advance our nation's interests in Iraq ... [W]e are running out of time."

Voinovich includes with his letter to Bush, a position paper called "The Way Forward in Iraq."

Sen. John Warner (R-Va.), the former Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told Associated Press that after the 4th of July recess, "You'll be hearing a number of statements from other [Republican] colleagues." In this escalating collapse of Republican support for Bush, Warner is drafting a legislative proposal on the war, but is not ready to discuss the details at present, Warner's spokesman John Ullyot told AP.

Voinovich also told AP that once Iraq's neighbors know that the U.S. is pulling out, "I think all of a sudden the fear of God will descend on them and [they'll] say, `We've got to get involved in this thing." As for the people of Iraq, Senator Voinovich said, "It's in their best interest to become part of the solution, instead of sitting on the sidelines. I don't think they'll get it until they know we're leaving."