Quotes from Pennsylvania lawmakers about President Bush's speech on Iraq:
"This is not a short term battle. It's something we as Americans have to understand the president has been saying. Fighting the terrorists, fighting Islamic extremism is a long term proposition."
-- Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Blair County.
"We should implement a phased withdrawal in the coming months to put the Iraqis on notice that it's time for them to take over the responsibility for their own security."
-- Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills.
"The president is sending 20,000 more of our young men and women to fight on the front lines of Iraq without any change in strategy and it is the absolute wrong course of action."
-- Rep. Allyson Schwartz, D-Phila.
"The American people have rightly demanded of our president a candid, straightforward prognosis concerning our worsening situation in Iraq, and I believe tonight he finally delivered it."
-- Rep. John Peterson, R-Venango.
"We went into this to pursue terrorists, not to insert ourselves in a civil war, and given the change in the nature of the conflict, there is a real danger that we could become embroiled in an open ended civil war in coming months."
-- Rep. Phil English, R-Erie. (Mr. English said the administration has not adequately made the case to increase troop levels.)
"I'm going to certainly mull the proposal around, but I'm certainly skeptical."
-- Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-Luzerne County.
"I believe we must focus on those issues that directly impact our vital national security interests, such as preventing al-Qaida operatives from using Iraq as a base of operations."
-- Rep. Jim Gerlach, R-Chester County. (Mr. Gerlach said he supports sending additional troops to Iraq's western Anbar province, but has concerns about sending additional troops to Baghdad to quell sectarian violence.)
"If the President wants more troops, there must be very clear definitions of their rules of engagement so that our soldiers are not put in positions where they cannot fight back, there must be a clear mission."
-- Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair.
"Constituents are calling my office saying that they think this surge will only result in more bloodshed."
-- Rep. Bob Brady, D-Phila.
"The actions of the Iraqis, not simply their words, must guide our nation's actions in the months to come."
-- Rep. Todd Platts, R-York County.
"I believe a troop increase is not a good idea and is ill-advised. President Bush is not listening to his advisors. He has consistently said during the entire war, that the decisions about the size of the force should be determined by the military leaders and generals on the ground."
-- Rep. Tim Holden, D-Schuylkill.
More Congressional reaction to President Bush's address:
"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.
First Published: January 10, 2007, 5:00 a.m.
