Democrats: Bush 'failed' to provide plan

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- President George W. Bush provided neither a plan to end the Iraq War nor a reason to continue it, Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., said in response to Bush's remarks.

Bush outlined his plans for U.S. troop levels in Iraq to Americans during a prime time address from the Oval Office Thursday.

"(Thursday), a nation eager for change in Iraq heard the president speak about his plans for the future," Reed said in delivering his party's response. "But once again, the president failed to provide either a plan to successfully end the war or a convincing rationale to continue it."

Democrats, he said, believe the current course must change.

"We have put forth a plan to responsibly and rapidly begin a reduction of our troops in Iraq," said Reed, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a former U.S. Army Ranger. "An endless and unlimited military presence in Iraq is not an option."

Congress and Americans "must not stand idly by" while U.S. interests worldwide "are undermined and our armed forces are stretched toward the breaking point," said Reed.

"We intend to exercise our Constitutional duties and profoundly change our military involvement in Iraq,” he said.