FLORENCE, Ore. -- Five years ago today, U.S. led forces invaded Iraq.

With nearly 4,000 Americans dead in that war, Republican U.S. Senator Gordon Smith talked to KCST radio in Florence Tuesday -- on what it's going to take to get out.

Smith believes a realistic picture is to understand the U.S. military has accomplished everything that they can and have "won all we have asked them to win."

Smith says it is now time for leaders to give a plan to bring troops home soon, "but safely and honorably."

But Smith says the war on terror remains important.

Smith has been critical of the current administration's handling of the war in Iraq. But he maintains solidarity with the Republican Party as far as the next administration is concerned.