June 27, 2007 (LPAC)--With his submission and release of a plan called "The Way Forward in Iraq," calling for the U.S. to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq as part of a June 26 letter to President Bush, Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH) has become the first Republican Senator to propose a plan to end U.S. military involvement in Iraq in the immediate future.

Voinovich argues to Bush:

"It is in our nation's security and economic interests to begin to change our strategy in Iraq, and initiate a plan for a responsible military disengagement. We have lost 3,530 lives to military operations in Iraq. We have spent over $378 billion, plus the funds we appropriated in the most recent supplmental...If we proceed on the current path, we will endanger our nation's long-term competitiveness and well-being.

"Moreover, political realities in Washington will force change. As we approach the 2008 Presidential election campaign, the people of the United States may choose to elect a President that promises immediate withdrawal ... Therefore it is time to deal with the realities--the inevitability of our eventual disengagement--and begin the planning for a new way forward in Iraq."

Voinovich makes the following points to Bush:

(1) It is "absolutely critical that we avoid being forced into a precipitous withdrawal," [emphasis in original], which could destabilize the region, result in the "disintegration" of U.S. relations with various allies, and endanger vital energy supplies in the Mideast, among other consequences;

(2) While Americans fight courageously in Iraq, in fact, "Iraq's future rests on largely on political solutions within the Iraqi government";

(3) We need to make "al Qaeda's mission to drive out U.S. forces obsolete, so Iraqi tolerance for al Qaeda disappears;

(4) The U.S. "should begin by issuing a clear announcement of the intention to responsibly withdraw our military forces from Iraq, while stressing our intention to remain engaged in Iraq's future..." This statement must go hand-and-hand with a demonstration, such as drawing back a significant number of our forces to military garrisons or redeploy them to operating bases in other countries;

(5) The U.S. should organize an international conference to bring together Iraq's neighbors, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, and the UN Secretary General, which should result in a UN resolution;

(6) There must be a substantial aid package for Iraq. This will send a clear message that we intend to keep our promise and help stabilize Iraq.