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WASHINGTON - (KRT) - A top congressional Democratic supporter of US act ion in Iraq said Thursday that President Bush should make a nationally t elevised speech and "level with the American people" about the long road ahead there. Faced with declining public support, Bush needs to tell Americans "it's g oing to take a lot more time ... at least through the end of 2006," and explain what still has to be done there, Sen. Joe Biden told reporters a fter returning from his fifth visit to Iraq. The Delaware senator, senior Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, said he gave his suggestion Tuesday to Stephen Hadley, Bush's national security adviser, after finding "a total disconnect" between the situati on in Iraq and optimistic statements by Bush and his top aides. "This disconnect between reality and the political assertions made by the administration fuels the cynicism" of the public and "causes Americans to think, well, this isn't working. We've got to move out of Iraq,'" Bi den said, Premature withdrawal "in my view would be a disaster," he said. "But unle ss the administration makes some real changes in policy, they may wind u p with a real disaster on their hands." He has warned that Iraq could be come another Lebanon, beset by continuing strife with no one group in co ntrol. The senator cited recent polls showing a decline in support for the US effort in Iraq, and added, "The American people are pretty tough, but th ey've got to have something out there to make it look like there's a sho t if they continue to make this investment with their kids and their dol lars. A White House aide acknowledged the Biden-Hadley meeting but had no comme nt on the senator's proposal, noting that Bush often speaks about the si tuation in Iraq. Biden urged Bush to ask NATO to provide troops to seal the border between Syria and Iraq, noting an increase in the number of "jihadists" from ot her Arab countries, especially Saudi Arabia and Syria, coming into Iraq to join the insurgency. He also called for an increased European role in developing Iraq's politi cal institutions and training Iraqi military officers. He said the train ing of police and military forces to replace US troops in providing se curity is running "a year and a half behind schedule." Biden said more US aid should be moved from big public works projects t o ease everyday problems of Iraqis by fixing bridges, sewers and trash c ollection.
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