U.S. Sen. George V. Voinovich, a Cleveland Republican: “I’ve recently returned from

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George Voinovich

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U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Avon)

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U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles

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Charlie Wilson

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Jason Altmire

U.S. Sen. George V. Voinovich, a Cleveland Republican: “I’ve recently returned from Iraq, and I can tell you that our troops’ morale is high and they’re completely committed to the mission. And there has been some success there lately that no one can deny. But the fact remains that we need to have a comprehensive strategy to begin our military disengagement from Iraq. “

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Avon Democrat: “The administration is promoting the same failed Iraq policy. America cannot afford to be bogged down with this civil war.”

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, a Niles
Democrat who represents
portions of
Mahoning and Trumbull counties: “I’m going to reserve judgment until the report is released, but it’s clear that they haven’t hit the benchmarks that they came up with and the main problems and political issues Iraq faces aren’t being resolved.”

U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson, a St. Clairsville Democrat who represents Columbiana County and a portion of Mahoning: “The American people deserve an honest assessment of conditions in Iraq and the Bush administration’s effort to manipulate the facts is unacceptable. The general may only give us one side of the picture. Some news reports indicate that Gen. Petraeus may recommend the removal of just one brigade of U.S. troops in Iraq. Other reports suggest he could recommend maintaining the current troop level. Neither option represents a new direction in our nation’s Iraq policy. We need a new direction.”

U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire, a McCandless, Pa., Democrat who represents Lawrence County and part of Mercer County: “I expect Gen. Petraeus to call for a draw down of the number of U.S. troops in Iraq and that he will deliver a report that shows decidedly mixed successes since the initiation of the surge. I expect Gen. Petraeus’ report will show some military progress, but little to no political reconciliation on the part of the Iraqi government. I have the utmost confidence that Gen. Petraeus’ report to Congress will reflect his views on what’s happening on the ground in Iraq, and hopefully the political ‘spin doctors’ will stay out of it after that.”