Reaction to the new plan for Iraq

US President George W. Bush said Wednesday that he was sending about 21,500 extra troops to Iraq. Here are some reactions to his new plan for Iraq:

"In the days ahead, Congress will exercise its Constitutional responsibilities by giving the President's latest proposal the scrutiny our troops and the American people expect.

We will demand answers to the tough questions that have not been asked or answered to date. The American people want a change of course in Iraq. We intend to keep pressing President Bush to provide it."
Joint statement from House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate majority Leader Harry Reid, House majority leader Steny Hoyer and Senate assistant democratic leader Richard Durbin.

"The president knows there is no silver bullet to make our mission there easier, but he is committed to a new, better strategy that will move us toward a stable Iraq."
Senator Roy Blunt, House of Representatives Republican whip

"What we really ought to be having at this time is a surge of political initiatives, rather than a surge of military initiatives."
Senator Edward Kennedy, Democrat

"I did not see anything in the speech or anything in the runup to the speech that provides evidence that an additional 15-to-20 thousand more U.S. troops is going to make a significant dent in the sectarian violence that's taking place there and I didn't see any political strategy in the president's remarks."
Senator Barack Obama, Democrat and possible presidential candidate