Iraq quotes from both sides of the aisle

The Associated Press ran a list of quotes from U.S. Senators following the testimony of Gen. David Petraeus on on progress in Iraq.

Here's a sampling of the comments separated into two camps.

From those advocating victory:

"Today it is possible to talk with real hope and optimism about the future of Iraq and the outcome of our efforts there. For while the job of bringing security to Iraq is not finished, as the recent fighting in Basra and elsewhere vividly demonstrated, we're no longer staring into the abyss of defeat and we can now look ahead to the genuine prospect of success." — Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

"As I hear the questions and the statements today, it seems to me that there's a kind of 'hear no progress in Iraq, see no progress in Iraq, and most of all, speak of no progress in Iraq.' The fact is, there has been progress in Iraq." — Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn.

"I want to remark how dramatic a difference it is from today and the reports that you bring us, General Petraeus, from what we had seen when we were last together here in September. I think it's undeniable that dramatic and significant progress has been made, particularly as it relates to al-Qaida." — Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla.

From those advocating defeat:

"I just want to respond to some of the statements and suggestions that have been made ... that it is irresponsible or demonstrates a lack of leadership to advocate withdrawing troops from Iraq in a responsible and carefully planned withdrawal. I fundamentally disagree. Rather, I think it could be fair to say that it might well be irresponsible to continue the policy that has not produced the results that have been promised time and time again." — Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.

"And 15 months into the surge, we've gone from drowning to treading water. We're still spending $3 billion every week and we're still losing — thank God it's less — but 30 to 40 American lives every month. We can't keep treading water without exhausting ourselves. But that's what the president seem to be asking us to do." — Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del.

"The problem I have is if the definition of success is so high: no traces of al-Qaida and no possibility of reconstitution, a highly effective Iraqi government, a Democratic multiethnic, multi-sectarian functioning democracy, no Iranian influence, at least not of the kind that we don't like, then that portends the possibility of us staying for 20 or 30 years. If, on the other hand, our criteria is a messy, sloppy status quo but there's not, you know, huge outbreaks of violence ... that seems to me an achievable goal within a measurable timeframe." — Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.