Quotes from members of Congress on the Bush address

Congressional reaction to President Bush's address Wednesday night on Iraq:

"Iraqi political leaders will not take the necessary steps to achieve a political resolution to the sectarian problems in their country until they understand that the U.S. commitment is not open-ended. Escalating our military involvement in Iraq sends precisely the wrong message and we oppose it." — joint statement by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Democratic Whip Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md.

"I applaud the president for rejecting the fatalism of failure and pursuing a new course to achieve success in Iraq." — Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn.

"Escalating our involvement with an increase in the number of troops in Iraq will further strain our own military and reduce our ability to fight a global war on terror." — Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo.

"Now that the president has outlined a change in strategy, we should give his proposals an opportunity to work. I am disappointed that some declared the president's proposals unworkable even before they were announced." — Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz.

"Despite the warnings of his top generals, and the message sent by the American people, the president has again decided to go it alone. This is the wrong approach." — Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.

"Freedom must prevail in Iraq. The president has charted a course for victory and I look forward to supporting this new strategy." — Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind.

"We are extending an ineffective tactic to further the status quo. Iraqis must be the ones to settle their own peace." — Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore.

"The president knows he's walking into a buzz saw. If he had answers, he would have given them a long time ago." — Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y.

"If Iraq is going to fulfill its role as a sovereign and democratic state, it must start acting like one. It is for this reason that I oppose the proposal for a troop surge." — Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn.

"President Bush has chosen to stick his head in the sand, not listen to anyone and continue on a course that is not going to make Iraq any safer for either our brave troops or for the Iraqis themselves." — Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J.

"I'm convinced the military can handle it and we'll be successful." — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

"It is time for Congress to exercise its power and fulfill the wishes of the American people by changing the direction in Iraq." — Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J.

The president "should be given the opportunity to make this work. He realizes this is his last chance to make this work. He has to show it's a new policy, and this is a war we cannot afford to lose." — Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y.

"We are on the road to nowhere in Iraq and putting more troops on that road will not get us anywhere." — Rep. Joe Sestak, D-Pa.

"I do not believe that sending more troops to Iraq is the answer. Iraq requires a political rather than a military solution." — Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan.