Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., got the support he needed when the Iraq Study Group Report was released Wednesday, calling on the Bush administration to make changes in policies regarding the war in Iraq.

The report, which is sometimes referred to as the Baker report, is a 160-page bipartisan book calling for the removal of U.S. troops in Iraq by 2008. The report is the result of a study introduced by Sen. Frank Wolf, R-Va., in March.

The report said conditions in Iraq rapidly are deteriorating and advised against sending additional U.S. troops. Instead, the report suggested Iraqi troops be trained. Levin, who publicly opposes the war, has said the U.S. should give Iraq up to six months notice before withdrawing troops.

"This report represents another blow at the policy of 'stay the course,' policy that this administration has followed," Levin said in a statement. "Hopefully, this will be the end of that 'stay the course.' The course is not worth it."

Political theory and constitutional democracy sophomore Mark Toaz, who agrees with Levin, said he believes the senator has tried to separate the war in Iraq from the war on terror.

"I don't think the war in Iraq had to do with terror per se," Toaz said. "I agree with (Levin's) statements overall, but there's more than terrorism we're trying to fight here. We should try to clean up our mess a little bit."

One of Toaz's main worries is how pulling out of the country will affect Iraq, he said.

"It might not be good for the Iraqis, but I don't know how much more we can do," Toaz said. "As far as I'm concerned, terrorism comes from poverty. If you destroy a country, it's going to breed more terrorism."

Matt Zierler, a James Madison College professor, said an external approach to the war makes sense, and the report does a good job of detailing the problems in the Middle East. But the report needs more guidelines to make it successful, he added.

"Part of the problem of the Iraqi situation relates to the influence of other states in the region," Zierler said. "It's a plan that requires the juggling of a number of very specific issues. In principle, it makes a lot of sense.

"In reality, it may be difficult to implement."

Staff writer Lindsey Poisson contributed to this report.