"Finish the job and be victorious," Christensen said. Mourn the soldiers who have been killed, he added, but "honor them by successfully completing the mission to which they were so devoted."

As of Thursday, the death toll for U.S. troops in Iraq was at 2,785, including 18 Utahns. About 20,000 U.S. military members have been injured in combat. With the month not over yet, the death toll for October is at 72, making it, so far, the third-deadliest month this year for U.S. troops in Iraq.

Incumbent 2nd District Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, voted for the authorization of force as a final option for Bush, and the District 2 incumbent said he opposes setting an "arbitrary" deadline for withdrawal.

"I oppose calls for an immediate withdrawal," Matheson said. "I support having Congress clearly delineate the conditions that, if met, would permit a U.S. withdrawal."

Democrat Christian Burridge, who is challenging incumbent Rep. Chris Cannon for the 3rd District seat in the House, said he didn't agree with the methodology of the U.S. invasion.

"We did not invade with overwhelming force," Burridge said, "and we entered without a clear exit strategy."

Cannon said he supports the war. Setting a specific timetable for withdrawal, he added, would be "detrimental" to efforts in Iraq.

"If we pull out too soon," Cannon said, "the region will devolve into a breeding ground for hate and anarchy, and no society will be safe."

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E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com