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The situation in Iraq has been steadily worsening, and as a recent interim report concluded, the U.S.-backed Iraqi government in Baghdad has met none of its benchmarks for political, economic or other reform. Our military is overextended and is now caught in the middle of a sectarian civil war. We must hold the Bush administration accountable for this chaos, and force the president to bring the occupation of Iraq to an end.

Today, July 12, the House of Representatives passed the "Responsible Redeployment from Iraq" Act (HR 2956), which will begin the partial withdrawal of U.S. troops within 120 days, and complete redeployment by April 1, 2008. The President would have to report to Congress the specific reasons why any troops should remain in Iraq after that date for limited purposes such as to fight terrorism or to train Iraqi forces.  It's time for the Senate to follow suit.

When this bill is brought to a vote in the Senate, it will give every senator the opportunity to vote to change course in Iraq and end the occupation. Congress must do what the Bush administration is unwilling to do -- begin a responsible exit from Iraq.