WASHINGTON, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- U.S. legislators planning on hemming in President Bush's power to act in Iraq were cautioned Friday about possible consequences of their actions.
"We ask anyone who is trying to come up with ideas and policy prescriptions on how to proceed in Iraq to understand that we don't live in a consequence-free world," White House deputy spokesman Tony Fratto said.
"When you make decisions and presume to expect that a policy will become the policy of the United States of America, you also need to explain what your responsibilities are if those policies are put into place."
The Democratically controlled House of Representatives earlier this month passed a non-binding resolution expressing disapproval of the administration plan to send additional troops to Iraq. Moves are now afoot in both the House and Senate for new binding legislation that could try to restrict presidential actions on troop deployments and Iraq policy. Some could set the stage for a clash over the president's war powers as stipulated in the Constitution.
The White House Friday declined to comment succinctly on "hypothetical" legislation. But in earlier remarks on the non-binding House resolution, it warned it could send a harmful message to friends, enemies and U.S. troops in the field.
