Opposition Democrats are criticizing President Bush's speech on Iraq, saying it is time for the Bush administration to level with the American people about the security situation in that country.
The top Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi of California, says President Bush must outline a new and specific plan for success in Iraq. She says the American people deserve to know the truth about the insurgency, and how much more sacrifice will be required of U.S troops.
She also criticized Mr. Bush for, in her words, "exploiting" the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks during the speech. She says there is no connection between those attacks and the war in Iraq.
The U.S. lawmaker says the United States must turn over security to Iraqi forces, and engage other nations in diplomacy.
Democratic Senator Joseph Biden of Delaware said there is no way to successfully battle the insurgency in Iraq without sealing the border with Syria.
