U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte has been cited by some special interest groups in recent years for being a congressman who votes in lock step with the Republican Party line and President Bush.

But on Thursday, Goodlatte, of Roanoke County, didn't embrace Bush's decision to increase the American presence in Iraq by 21,500 troops.

Goodlatte said Bush is the commander in chief, so his decision must be respected. But Goodlatte added, "whether it will work or not, I don't know."

Goodlatte said he believes the troop surge should be one offered by the Iraqis themselves.

Others in the congressional delegation reacted Thursday to Bush's plan, the Democrats denouncing it and the Republicans offering lukewarm response to cautious trepidation.

The Democrats, U.S. Sen James Webb and Rep. Rick Boucher of Abingdon, said Bush continues to push a strategy that won't work -- their reaction generally mirroring the predominant feeling among their party counterparts.

Rep. Virgil Goode, R-Rocky Mount, as well as Sen. John Warner, acknowledged the validity of the president's decision. But like their party-mate Goodlatte, they didn't applaud it.

"I want to see what comes before the Congress. I will consider what the president recommends, what my fellow members of the House suggest and, most of all, what the residents of [my district] have to say on the subject," Goode said.

Goode was more outspoken about an increase in federal funding to pay for the war, specifically mentioning a proposal to spend $1 billion more to help rebuild Iraq.

"I will not vote for this expenditure until a like amount is appropriated for rebuilding the economy of the 5th District, which saw its anchor industries disappear because of faulted federal government practices." Goode's 5th District includes Southside Virginia, which has lost thousands of textile-related jobs to Mexico and other countries.

Warner, a World War II veteran and the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, appeared on CNN's "Larry King Live" following Bush's speech Wednesday night.

Warner, who said last fall the situation in Iraq is going "sideways," said he believes Bush's speech was credible and sincere.

"I think it's now the responsibility of the Congress, particularly the Senate, to give equal study and objectivity to this speech and come up with our own opinions," said Warner.

Webb, Virginia's new junior senator, released a lengthy statement Thursday afternoon saying the Bush administration's decision to invade Iraq was misguided from the start.

"Very little has happened since 2003 that was not both predictable and predicted," said Webb, whose son is a Marine in Iraq.

Boucher said Thursday that he's concerned because Bush seems to have rejected a major recommendation on Iraq recently released by a bipartisan study commission: Using diplomacy with other countries.

Warner, too, has made comments in recent weeks supportive of the study commission's work.

"I think the president is being very unwise," Boucher said. "This situation cannot be resolved militarily."