"If the Congress knew then, what we know today, even the Republican leadership would not have brought it to a vote.

"If the Bush Administration had done the hard work of building an international coalition to really contain Saddam, there would have been no vote.

"If I knew then everything that I know today and the Republican leadership still brought it up for a vote, I would have voted no.

"While mistakes were made in the way Bush took us to war, the Republican led Congress has not done its job of providing aggressive oversight of the Iraq war. In the days ahead, the Congress must use the power of the purse to hold the Bush Administration accountable for more progress towards beginning to bring our troops home this year.

"We will always make sure our troops have everything they need to do their jobs well, but we will look at other cost cutting measures.

"I am for changing the course in Iraq, my opponent is for staying the course. I oppose permanent bases in Iraq, my opponent does not share that belief. We do have different views of where to go next in Iraq.

"The Iraqis must take over responsibility for their own security this year."