The U.S. Senate approved a bill Thursday requiring President Bush to withdraw troops from Iraq within 120 days of the passage of the bill.Although President Bush hasn’t laid out an end to his Middle East misadventure, withdrawal from the area isn’t a solution either.

It’s obvious no one in politics has any real idea of how to handle this messy situation.

Both the House and Senate have approved similar bills requiring a troop pullout within one year; now both sides must polish their respective bills and present a final version to President Bush, which he will not approve. Bush said he would veto any bill limiting troop funding or requiring a troop pullout.

If Bush vetoes this bill, it would only solidify the lack of cooperation and direction our government is currently exemplifying.

Hillary Clinton has said leaving Iraq would be a mistake. Fellow Democrat Barack Obama has opposed the war in Iraq since the beginning.

Bush supports staying in Iraq until the job is done, though he hasn’t said when that is or what that entails. Additionally, Bush continually says the United States is winning the war in Iraq.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates doesn’t believe the United States is winning the war yet supports Bush’s increase of troops in Iraq.

Quite simply, too many people have too many ideas about what to do with Iraq.

The nation as a whole needs to pressure the House, Senate and Bush administration to find a single, viable solution and find it fast.

Unless our elected leaders actually sit down and work toward a mutual agreement, then more people will die, and more money will be spent.

Managing editor John-Laurent Tronche for the editorial board.