Republican Senator Chuck Hagel says some of the top politicians in Washington hold regrettable views on how the Iraq war should end.

In a Thursday interview with CNN, Hagel criticized Republican nominee-in-waiting John McCain for framing the situation in Iraq as one that the US must 'win'.

"John (McCain), the President and the others have put the Iraqi situation in the wrong context. This isn't a win or lose," said Hagel.

"We shouldn't frame this up as a win-or-lose because, when we do that - and this is where I have a major disagreement with McCain, then on that basis we'll be there forever," expounded the Nebraska senator.

According to Hagel, it is up to the Iraqi people to decide what kind of government they want, not Washington.

The prominent lawmaker concluded that the next US president should feel bound to unite Washington and said Democratic candidate Barack Obama stands the best chance in this regard.

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