Democrats warn Bush about Iraq plans

WASHINGTON – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is cautioning US President George W Bush to think twice before proposing a troop increase in Iraq, suggesting the new Democratic-controlled Congress could deny him the funding.

But the Senate’s top Republican said he believed that Bush will get the money he needs and cast doubt that Democrats would – or could – block him. “Congress is incapable of micromanaging the tactics in the war,” said Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, of Kentucky.Bush was putting the finishing touches on a revised war strategy he planned to announce this week – perhaps on Wednesday.In addition to a troop increase, the proposal could provide more money for jobs and reconstruction programmes in Iraq.In issuing her warning, Pelosi made clear that her party supported boosting the overall military size “to protect the American people against any threats to our interests” and would not cut off money for troops already in Iraq.But Bush will not get a blank check for an open-ended commitment there, she said.Any funding he seeks for additional forces in Iraq – Bush’s expected plan could send as many as 20 000 more US troops – will get the “harshest scrutiny.””The burden is on the president to justify any additional resources for a mission,” said Pelosi, a California Democrat.Asked about Pelosi’s remarks, White House spokesman Alex Conant said Bush welcomed any.Nampa-AP”Congress is incapable of micromanaging the tactics in the war,” said Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, of Kentucky.Bush was putting the finishing touches on a revised war strategy he planned to announce this week – perhaps on Wednesday.In addition to a troop increase, the proposal could provide more money for jobs and reconstruction programmes in Iraq.In issuing her warning, Pelosi made clear that her party supported boosting the overall military size “to protect the American people against any threats to our interests” and would not cut off money for troops already in Iraq.But Bush will not get a blank check for an open-ended commitment there, she said.Any funding he seeks for additional forces in Iraq – Bush’s expected plan could send as many as 20 000 more US troops – will get the “harshest scrutiny.””The burden is on the president to justify any additional resources for a mission,” said Pelosi, a California Democrat.Asked about Pelosi’s remarks, White House spokesman Alex Conant said Bush welcomed any.Nampa-AP