November 27, 2006

"Stay the course is gone. We're going to try and devise some new strategies, hopefully with the President's concurrence," said Senator John Warner.

Speaking at the annual Chamber of Commerce Dinner at the Omni Hotel, Senator Warner addressed the growing concerns over the direction of the War in Iraq.

"Our soldier, sailors and airmen should not be in there, risking their lives, losing their lives to stop a Civil War," he said.

Warner's comments come on the heels of President Bush's trip to Jordan to meet with Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri- Al Maliki. His trip comes at a time when some believe the country is heading towards all out Civil War.

"The deteriorating situation, we could be there. In fact, we are almost there," said United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Meanwhile in Washington, the Iraq Study Group is on the verge of making its final recommendations. The New York Times is reporting that the group does not make a timetable for troop withdrawal but does recommend new diplomatic measures, including talks with Iran and Syria. Warner says these types of talks should be entered into cautiously.

"If Iran wants to play a constructive role and recognize that the State of Israel should be preserved and other very important things to the United States, who knows, it might work out," he said.

In a sidebar, Warner talked about his political future. He is up for reelection in 2008 but has not decided whether he will run again. He said while he knows decision time is nearing close, he is not prepared to many any final decisions.