Related articles:

Bush will seek more troops for Iraq, senator says

Health Care
FRONT OFFICE Trades/Construction
Lectra-Serv, Inc
Electricians & Helpers General
Prestige maintenance USA
Custodian Trades/Construction
Pioneer Landscaping
Yard Person/Loader Operator Administrative & Professional
Tucson Symphony
Teleservices Sales/Courtesy Rep Mechanical
Pioneer Landscaping
Diesel Fleet Mechanic Production and Manufacturing
Pioneer Landscaping
Crushing Crew

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi contended Friday that President Bush is rushing new troops to Iraq and betting that Congress won't cut off funds once they're in battle. The White House called her assertion "poisonous."

In an exchange of harsh rhetoric, Pelosi, D-Calif., said the war should not be "an obligation of the American people in perpetuity."

"The president knows that because the troops are in harm's way, that we won't cut off the resources. That's why he's moving so quickly to put them in harm's way," Pelosi said on ABC's "Good Morning America."

When asked whether she thought the president manipulated the deployments to avoid congressional action, Pelosi said she hoped he did not but thought "he could have told us about it sooner. … We found out about it as the troops were going in."

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino retorted that lawmakers are involved in a "sound bite war" against Bush, counter to Democrats' promises of bipartisanship.

"Those particular comments were poisonous," Perino said. "I think questioning the president's motivations and suggesting that he, for some political reason, is rushing troops into harm's way, is not appropriate, it is not correct, and it is unfortunate because we do have troops in harm's way."

In a letter to Bush, Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said they were eager to work "in a bipartisan fashion on the terrorism issue and in so doing strengthen the relationship between your administration and Congress."

Meanwhile, support was building around a resolution opposing Bush's troop plans.

Senate Democrats, backed by Republicans Olympia Snowe of Maine and Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, unveiled nonbinding legislation this week that would criticize Bush's decision.