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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Democrats warn Bush on Iraq plans | Democrats warn Bush on Iraq plans |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The newly-empowered US Democrats have warned President George W Bush he will have to justify any plans to boost troop levels in Iraq. | The newly-empowered US Democrats have warned President George W Bush he will have to justify any plans to boost troop levels in Iraq. |
| House leader Nancy Pelosi said there would be "no blank cheque" for Mr Bush. | House leader Nancy Pelosi said there would be "no blank cheque" for Mr Bush. |
| The president is expected to outline a new strategy this week that may include 20,000 more US troops for Baghdad. | The president is expected to outline a new strategy this week that may include 20,000 more US troops for Baghdad. |
| Reports suggest Mr Bush intends to attach strong conditions to any increase, such as specific targets for Iraq's security and political progress. | Reports suggest Mr Bush intends to attach strong conditions to any increase, such as specific targets for Iraq's security and political progress. |
| The Democrats took over Congress for the first time in 12 years last week, giving them a shift in power which could lead to challenges to the authority of the White House. | The Democrats took over Congress for the first time in 12 years last week, giving them a shift in power which could lead to challenges to the authority of the White House. |
| Ms Pelosi described the conflict in Iraq as a war without end which the American people had rejected. | Ms Pelosi described the conflict in Iraq as a war without end which the American people had rejected. |
| She told CBS News programme Face the Nation that up until now the Republicans had given Mr Bush a blank cheque, with no oversight, standards or conditions. | |
| 'Escalation opposed' | 'Escalation opposed' |
| "Congress is ready to use its constitutional authority of oversight to question what is the justification for this spending, what are the results we are receiving," she said. | "Congress is ready to use its constitutional authority of oversight to question what is the justification for this spending, what are the results we are receiving," she said. |
| Ms Pelosi has urged a phased withdrawal of US troops"Escalation of the war is opposed by the Democrats." | Ms Pelosi has urged a phased withdrawal of US troops"Escalation of the war is opposed by the Democrats." |
| However, Ms Pelosi said the Democrats would not cut off money for troops already in Iraq. | However, Ms Pelosi said the Democrats would not cut off money for troops already in Iraq. |
| Another top Democrat, Steny Hoyer, told another US television show the expected proposal by Mr Bush for a $1bn boost for the Iraq economy would also "get careful scrutiny and oversight". | Another top Democrat, Steny Hoyer, told another US television show the expected proposal by Mr Bush for a $1bn boost for the Iraq economy would also "get careful scrutiny and oversight". |
| Some Republicans have said there should be no Congress block on financing. | Some Republicans have said there should be no Congress block on financing. |
| Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said: "Congress is incapable of micromanaging the tactics in the war." | Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said: "Congress is incapable of micromanaging the tactics in the war." |
| And Democrat Senator Joe Biden added: "As a practical matter, there's no way to say, 'Mr President, stop'." | And Democrat Senator Joe Biden added: "As a practical matter, there's no way to say, 'Mr President, stop'." |
| Ms Pelosi and Senate majority leader Harry Reid sent a letter to Mr Bush last week saying there should be no increase in troops, but instead there should be the start of a phased withdrawal. | Ms Pelosi and Senate majority leader Harry Reid sent a letter to Mr Bush last week saying there should be no increase in troops, but instead there should be the start of a phased withdrawal. |
| Mr Bush is continuing briefings with lawmakers this week ahead of a speech expected as early as Wednesday. | Mr Bush is continuing briefings with lawmakers this week ahead of a speech expected as early as Wednesday. |
| The expected policy shift follows a recent report from the Iraq Study Group, which said US policy in Iraq was not working, and a Republican bruising in mid-term elections in November, blamed partly on the White House's handling of the conflict. | The expected policy shift follows a recent report from the Iraq Study Group, which said US policy in Iraq was not working, and a Republican bruising in mid-term elections in November, blamed partly on the White House's handling of the conflict. |