What our leaders say
"I think we do need more troops over there and have for a long period of time. The people who make those decisions do not agree with that." - Rep. Joe Schwarz, R-Mich.
We live in an instant-coffee world. Sometimes real-world solutions take a little longer." - Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas
"It's hard to get a clear picture of exactly where we stand. We've made progress with the training of Iraqi security forces, but it's taken a lot longer to get there than we anticipated." - Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C.
"People are weary and kind of fatigued about it - and, of course, casualties are very disheartening. There's a certain frustration." - Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.
"There is a growing unease, but all the folks I talked to support our troops, want us to win in the Middle East and still trust our military leaders to do the right thing. I think there's some skepticism of our civilian leaders." - Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn.
"It's hard to argue with people who have concerns. I usually just try to explain to them that it'll be very dangerous to pick up and leave there, even though nothing will please me more than to get our troops out of harm's way." - Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas.
"If this hole he's dug us in Iraq is not filled in by him relatively shortly, we're going to inherit the whirlwind for a generation. This is going to end up in a civil war and a regional war." - Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del.
"This clearly has taken far longer than the administration has estimated. There's been a far greater expense in lives, blood and dollars than they thought, and than they told the American people." - Rep. Vic Snyder, D-Ark.
"We're a country of instant gratification. I think we would love it if we could just go whip, bang it's done and we can just bring the troops home. But I think most people know there's more to it than that." - Rep. Joel Hefley, R-Colo.
"It's a rollercoaster ride and hopefully we're going to end where we ought to end. But I don't think we should paint too rosy a picture for people. It's still going to be tough." - Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas.