The two leading U.S. officials in Iraq came before Congress Monday to praise the so-called troop surge while asking for more time to achieve its promised goals. Speaking alongside U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker, war commander General David Petraeus asked lawmakers to wait until March to decide whether to begin withdrawing U.S. troops.

Gen. David Petraeus: “The military objectives of the surge are in large measure being met. In recent months, in the face of tough enemies, in the brutal summer heat of Iraq, coalition and Iraqi security forces have achieved progress in the security arena.”

Petraeus also recommended what he called a “very substantial withdrawal” of 2,000 troops. The Wall Street Journal reports the pullback plan is essentially the smallest he could offer because many of the troops are already scheduled to be rotated out of Iraq next August. Democratic lawmakers offered a less critical response than some had expected. One criticism came from California Democratic Congressman Tom Lantos.

Rep. Tom Lantos: “Is it any wonder that on the subject of Iraq more and more Americans have little confidence in this administration? The fact remains, gentlemen, that the administration has sent you here today to convince the members of these two committees and the Congress that victory is at hand. With all due respect to you, I must say I don’t buy it.”