White House cool on Iraq Study Group

WASHINGTON, July 12 (UPI) -- The Bush administration is defying the U.S. Congress by refusing to revive the Iraq Study Group, The Washington Post reported Thursday.

Last month, the House voted 355 to 69 last month to allocate $1 million for the group of 10 prominent Republicans and Democrats to reconvene but officials told the Post the White House doesn't want independent assessments to overshadow the Sept. 15 reports by U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker.

U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., one of the House bill's co-sponsors, described the administration's stall as "shortsighted" and said it would further isolate the president.

"You can't rely just on Petraeus and Crocker. They are good people, but they're still in the thick of battle and you need the view from the outside," Shays told the Post. "The fact the White House doesn't want it indicates they are afraid of what the ISG might say."