White House: Hands off Iraq testimony

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Some Republican aides are upset the White House has declined to brief them on this week's congressional testimony on Iraq, it was reported.

"It would sure make things easier if we could get a heads-up on what the testimony will be," one Senate aide, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told The Washington Times in a story published Sunday.

Republican leadership aides said the White House failed to provide even a brief account of the proposed testimony by Gen. David H. Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, the Times reported.

White House spokesman Tony Fratto said there is no account to provide since only President George Bush has been briefed by Petraeus and Crocker.

Democratic critics have accused Bush of already dictating what Petraeus and Crocker can say, and not say, to Congress about conditions in Iraq, the Times reported.