The Associated Press
Saturday, June 24, 2006; 3:48 PM

WASHINGTON -- The head of the Democratic Party blamed the Bush administration's "failed political leadership and lack of foresight and planning" for turning U.S. soldiers into targets for the Iraqi insurgency.

In his party's weekly radio address Saturday, Howard Dean said the Republican plan of "stay the course" is not an option in the 3-year-old war and emphasized the Democratic call for a phased withdrawal of U.S. troops to begin by year's end.

He also rejected the Republican criticism that Democrats want to "cut and run."

"Among the victims are brave American soldiers who are the targets of an insurgency because of failed political leadership and a lack of foresight and planning," Dean said. "We don't want another wall with 55,000 names of courageous Americans who were let down by their government."

The reference was to the black granite memorial in Washington with the names of those who died in Vietnam.

Dean described the Democratic proposals offered in the Senate last week, including the start of a phased redeployment of troops and an accounting of the war's costs. The Republican-controlled Senate soundly rejected two Democratic plans calling for the United States to begin withdrawing most of the 127,000 American forces in the war zone.

Republicans contend that leaving would amount to a policy of retreat that would threaten national security. Vice President Dick Cheney said withdrawal of U.S. forces would be giving the terrorists what they want.

During the Senate debate, John McCain, R-Ariz., said leaving Iraq would "risk disaster" there. "Withdrawal and fail, or commit and succeed," he said.

Dean argued that Republicans don't have a plan.

"'Stay the course' is not a plan. Saying the problems in Iraq will be left to the next president is not a plan. Our troops deserve better," he said.

Dean added that phrases such as "peace is at hand" and "the insurgency is in its last throes" are made by what he called an increasingly desperate administration.

Cheney said last week that he stood by his statement that the insurgency was in its last throes.

Dean rejected the "cut and run" moniker, saying Democrats "will defend America, but we will be tough and smart."

In heated rhetoric, Cheney and White House adviser Karl Rove have assailed Democrats such as John Kerry and John Murtha, both decorated Vietnam veterans. Rove said those Democrats "may be with you at the first shots, but they are not going to be there for the last tough battles."

Said Dean, "A majority of the American people don't believe the president is telling the truth, while the administration and its supporters question the patriotism of veterans who disagree with them, accusing them of 'cut and run.'"