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Jack Reed: 'An Endless And Unlimited Military Presence In Iraq Is Not An Option.'

Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), co-author of the leading Democratic plan to get U.S. troops out of Iraq, said President Bush has "failed to provide either a plan to successfully end the war or a convincing rationale to continue it," and he warned that Democrats "intend to exercise our Constitutional duties and profoundly change our military involvement in Iraq…”

Reed, a senior member of the Armed Services Committee and former U.S. Army captain, said Bush, in his nationally televised speech on Iraq tonight, said the president has failed to provide leadership to the country, and he called on Republicans to join with Democrats in working out a bipartisan plan to remove American forces from Iraq.

Here are more excerpts from Reed's response to the Bush speech:

“…Tonight, a nation eager for change in Iraq heard the President speak about his plans for the future.

"But once again, the President failed to provide either a plan to successfully end the war or a convincing rationale to continue it."

"The President rightfully invoked the valor of our troops in his speech, but his plan does not amount to real change."

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