WASHINGTON, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., says the United States must begin planning for a phased withdrawal from Iraq.
In a column written for Sunday's Washington Post, Hagel said there "will be no victory or defeat for the United States in Iraq."
"The future of Iraq was always going to be determined by the Iraqis -- not the Americans," he said.
Hagel, who sits on the Senate committees on intelligence and foreign relations, said Iraq "is not a prize to be won or lost."
"It is part of the ongoing global struggle against instability, brutality, intolerance, extremism and terrorism," he said. "There will be no military victory or military solution for Iraq."
Hagel said the time has passed for sending more troops to Iraq, and the United States has no more troops to send in any case. Even if there were troops available, he said they would not be able to win a military victory.
"Militaries are built to fight and win wars, not bind together failing nations," said Hagel, who is widely regarded as a possible candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008.
