HELENA, Mont. (AP) U-S Senator Jon Tester says it's time to bring the troops home from Iraq, but he stopped short of calling for a cut in war funding.

In remarks prepared for a late-morning speech in Helena, Tester says he'll support legislation from fellow Democrats, that forces President Bush to get reauthorization for the war from Congress.

The bills also require longer breaks for troops between deployments.

Tester says the original goals of the Iraq war have either been met, or determined to be without merit.

He says no weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq, Saddam Hussein's regime has been toppled, and the Iraqi people now have a chance to establish their own government.

Tester says it's time for American troops to stop refereeing a centuries-old civil war, and come home after a job well done.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 07-03-07 1203CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list