Powerful Republican Senator: Iraq War "Drifting Sideways"

Senator John Warner is speaking up on the quagmire in Iraq:

The Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee warned Thursday that the situation in Iraq was “drifting sideways” and said that the United States should consider a “change of course” if violence did not diminish soon.

He's not the only Republican showing concern:

His comments underscored the growing misgivings of even senior Republicans about the situation in Iraq. They also appeared to be a warning to the Bush administration that it might have to consider different approaches after the November midterm elections.

Warner's solution - hearings:

Mr. Warner, whose term as chairman expires at the end of the year, said he hoped his committee would be able to hold hearings in November on policy options recommended by an independent panel, led by former Representative Lee H. Hamilton of Indiana and former Secretary of State James A Baker III.

He doesn't support the best solution to the Iraq War, supported by Senator Joe Biden:

Mr. Warner said the idea of partitioning Iraq along ethnic and sectarian lines would have “very serious consequences,” and he refused to endorse the idea of setting a timetable for a phased withdrawal of American troops.