WASHINGTON (CNN) -- As congressional Democrats consider various responses to President Bush's prime-time address on the way forward in Iraq, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said Tuesday they must decide how they foresee Iraq succeeding and how they will express their support for U.S. forces in the war-torn country.

"Democrats are going to have to make a choice here," Snow told reporters during the White House daily briefing. "They're going to have to decide where they stand in terms of two issues. No. 1: do you want Iraq to succeed and if so what does that mean, and No. 2: do you believe in supporting the troops, as you say, and how do you express that support."

Snow also said the president will acknowledge the conditions in Iraq have significantly declined in the last year.

"In early 2006 there was a sense of optimism, but guess what?," Snow said. "The terrorists did succeed in unleashing sectarian violence, and now that has created a new set of realities that one must contend with. And the president will talk about that."

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