By Maria Hickey, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – The Senate's new majority whip says it's time for Iraqis to defend their own country.
Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois says he does not want to see a failed state... but he wants to see Iraqis take more responsibility.
During his trip to Vietnam President Bush today said the lesson learned from the earlier war is not to quit.
Durbin says the U.S. has done enough.
We deposed their dictator, pulled him out of a hole in the ground, put him on trial, gave them a chance to write a constitution, hold free elections, form a government and now they have to stand and defend their own country, Durbin said.
Durbin says specifically Iraqis must rid their country of private militias.
And he says it's critical that the U.S. figure out a new course in Iraq within the next four months.