Sen. Conrad Burns said at a debate Tuesday night that President Bush does have a plan for winning the war in Iraq, but he isn�t about to share it with the world.
Democratic Senate candidate Jon Tester replied that Bush�s only plan is to stay the course in Iraq, costing more American lives and billions of dollars, and to pass the war on to the next president who will take office in January 2009.
The two candidates� answers about the war produced the most sparks at a debate before about 800 people at Montana State University-Billings sponsored by The Billings Gazette and the university. It was the two candidates� sixth debate; they face off for the final time in Great Falls Friday night.
For the first time, Burns publicly expressed some concern about how effectively the U.S. is waging the war in Iraq. He echoed the views of Senate Armed Services Chairman John Warner, who recently returned from a trip to Iraq.
�We can�t lose in Iraq,� Burns said. �The consequences of losing is too great.�
Burns, however, said the U.S. does need to change its military tactics there. �If we don�t change, we�ll pay a heavy price, but we cannot afford to lose it,� he said.
Tester said that Burns has finally admitted that his �stay the course� position in Iraq is wrong and welcomed the senator to his own side.
For nearly a year, Tester has called on Bush to develop a plan to remove U.S. troops from Iraq. Burns has criticized Tester�s position as �cut and run.�
�We�re in a quagmire over there,� Tester said.
Burns told Tester firmly not to put him in the Democrat�s camp on the issue.
�I said we�ve got to win,� Burns said. �He wants us to pull out. He wants everyone to know our plan. That�s not smart.
�He says our president don�t have a plan. I think he�s got one. He�s not going to tell everyone in the world.�
Many in the crowd, which was dominated by Tester supporters, openly laughed at Burns� claim that Bush has a plan.
Tester said Bush�s only plan is staying the course in Iraq at considerable sacrifices to U.S. troops and the federal treasury.
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