Rice: Bush will not abide by legislation to limit Iraq war

US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice urged the Democratic-controlled US Congress not to interfere in the conduct of the Iraq war and suggested President George Bush would defy troop withdrawal legislation.

However, Sen. Carl Levin, Democratic chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said lawmakers would step up efforts to force Bush to change course. “The president needs a check and a balance,” said Levin.

Rice said last night that proposals being drafted by Senate Democrats to limit the war amounted to “the worst of micromanagement of military affairs".

She said military leaders such as Gen. David Petraeus, the new US commander in Iraq, believe Bush’s plan to send more troops is necessary.

“I can’t imagine a circumstance in which it’s a good thing that their flexibility is constrained by people sitting here in Washington, sitting in the Congress,” Rice said. ---> Continue reading here.