WASHINGTON - Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., said Wednesday that it is time for opposing political forces to stop playing games with the war in Iraq and come together to develop a reasonable exit strategy for U.S. troops.

Speaking to reporters by telephone after a personal meeting with President Bush and members of his cabinet, Johnson said he was not suggesting that debate about the war be stifled. Rather, he urged those with strong views on both sides to express them in more constructive ways.

"I don't think the conflict in Iraq ought to be turned into a political football," Johnson said. "And I don't think we ought to be demonizing people whose views might be different from our own."

Johnson was one of nine senators who met Wednesday morning with Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and National Security Adviser Steve Hadley. Bush called the meeting with a mix of five Democratic and four Republican senators to discuss the war in Iraq and related issues.

Johnson said Bush acknowledged at the beginning of the meeting that people throughout the nation differ on their beliefs on how and why the United States became involved in Iraq. But Bush also said that despite those differences, it is important for people to unite on strategies to bring the conflict to an end, Johnson said.

"He noted, very correctly, that people are of a different mind on where we are, and there is a need for national unity," Johnson said. "I did indicate that I thought his observations were correct."

Johnson said that Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., told the president that he was being criticized by some people on the left for not pushing for an immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq. But conservative forces were blasting Obama for not being more vocal in support for the war, Johnson said.

"It means centrists trying to be cooperative are being attacked from both sides," Johnson said. "Challenging the patriotism or commitment to national security on anyone's part, I think, ought to be off the table."

Johnson said he questioned Bush about troop strength and possible reductions in the number of active military personnel. He also asked Rumsfeld if he was optimistic that there would be a substantial reduction of U.S. forces in Iraq this year.

Johnson also told Rumsfeld he was disappointed in some of the wasteful federal spending to private contractors in Iraq, most notably a $1.4 billion overrun in payments to the controversial Halliburton company.

On another subject, Johnson was asked how he would vote on the president's nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to the U. S. Supreme Court. Johnson said he would announce his decision today.

Conservative interest groups have been pressuring Johnson to vote to confirm Alito, who was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on a straight party-line vote earlier this week. Despite the fact that all the Democrats on the committee opposed Alito, Johnson said he hadn't been pressured by Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid on how to vote.

Johnson did say that based on comments from constituents during his recent trips in South Dakota, he believed other issues ranked higher than the Alito vote. Those included Medicare, health insurance, employment, the farm bill and Iraq, he said.

"I think, sometimes, people in Washington think the whole world revolves around whatever is the hot issue in Washington," Johnson said. "And sometimes, that is not the case."

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