Repeatedly pressed by "Fox News Sunday" host Chris Wallace to reveal his party's Iraq war plan, Sen. Dick Durbin's answer was that Democrats want to bring the troops home as soon as possible.
Wallace quoted President Jimmy Carter's national security advisor, Zbigniew Brzezinski, as having accused the Democrats, "his own party, of political desertion on Iraq.
"Democratic leaders have been silent or evasive. They have not offered an alternative to the war in Iraq. It's easy to criticize," Brzezinski said, according to Wallace, who then asked Durbin: "You talk about the lack of an administration plan. What is the Democratic plan? And be specific. What's the Democratic plan for Iraq?"
"I'll be very specific," replied Durbin, D-Ill. "But I can tell you, to start with, failed policies such as the one we have in Iraq gives us few options. And we understand that. We've been painted into a corner in this situation."
When Wallace countered that with, "Well, that's criticism, sir. What is your plan?" Durbin waffled, saying "Well, hold on, if you will, please. What we propose and what Senator John Warner accepted as a bipartisan approach in the Senate includes the following. This year, 2006, a year of transition, where the Iraqis take control of their own security and defense.
"Secondly, the Iraqis are put on notice they have to form a government that embraces all of the factions within Iraq so that we can see finally a government of unity leading to some sort of progress for the people of Iraq.
"And finally, we have to have from this president accountability, clear accountability, where he says every three months what progress is being made. His first report, incidentally, was not an encouraging one. It's an indication that despite all the rhetoric, we have not made progress this year."
Still looking for an answer, Wallace said: "But saying a year of significant transition, with all due respect, sir, is just a phrase. I mean, you know the situation there. There are 133,000 troops on the ground. Is it the Democratic plan that you could get all of them out by the end of the year, 30,000, get under 100,000? What's the Democratic plan?
Said Durbin: "My wish is to bring the troops home as quickly as possible."
After Wallace observed that, "Well, that's everyone's wish, sir," Durbin said, "Withdrawing them tomorrow is not realistic. But I will say this. We believe that if this president has a plan, and I'm not sure that he does, that it will be demonstrated by the end of the year that Iraqi forces will replace American forces. If they do not, it's further indication of the failure of this administration."
In the end, Wallace's question went unanswered.
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