Posted on 02/17/2005 9:59:20 AM PST by IAF ThunderPilot
President George W. Bush on Thursday addressed the issue of Iran's possible nuclear armament, declining to offer his full endorsement of Europe's negotiations to get Iran to halt its suspected nuclear weapons program.
He said the United States and Europe share the goal that Iran must not develop a nuclear weapon. Still, he left it up in the air whether he fully supports Europe's approach.
"I look forward to ... discussing strategies, ways forward with the Europeans to make sure we continue to speak with one voice, and that is Iran should not have a nuclear weapon and how to work together to make sure they don't," Bush said.
Asked if was concerned that Israel might attack Iran to prevent it from acquiring a nuclear weapon, Bush said Israel is concerned about Iran's intentions.
"But clearly, if I was the leader of Israel and I'd listened to some of the statements by the Iranian ayatollahs that regarded the security of my country, I'd be concerned about Iran having a nuclear weapon as well," Bush said.
He said Israel "is our ally and in that we've made a very strong commitment to support Israel, we will support Israel if her security is threatened."
Bush spoke at a news conference where he announced that John Negroponte, the US ambassador to Iraq, would be the first US director of national intelligence, the powerful overseer of all 15 intelligence agencies.
In addition, Bush said Syria was "out of step" with other nations in the Middle East and said the United States would work with other countries to pressure Damascus to remove its troops from Lebanon.
Bush said he did not know if Syria was involved in the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri.
"I can't tell you yet," Bush said. "I don't know that. I'm going to withhold judgment until we know what the facts are."
Bush said he would consult with allies about Syria when he visits Europe next week, and said the United States supports an international investigation of Hariri's assassination.
The United States has withdrawn its ambassador to Syria, Margaret Scobey, and that "indicates that the relationship is not moving forward," the president said. He said Syria was "out of step with the progress being made in the greater Middle East."
The United States expected Syria to find and turn over former supporters of Saddam Hussein's regime and send them back to Iraq and stop supporting terrorism, Bush said. He said Syria also must comply with UN resolutions calling for it to withdraw from Lebanon. Syria has 15,000 troops in Lebanon.
Looking ahead to his European trip, Bush said he knows that some allies think that his only concern is national security, and he said that national security is at the top of his agenda.
Yet, he said, "We also care about hunger and disease. We care about the climate."
Many allies are upset with the United States for refusing to approve the Kyoto climate treaty.
"They thought the treaty made sense," Bush said. "I didn't." He noted that the Senate had voted 95-0 against the treaty. Yet, Bush said there were other ways to deal with the problem of global warming and that he would talk with allies about new technologies to deal with the issue.
Kinda bad timing right now with Iraq still sorta a mess, although its getting better with each day. We also have to be careful that we dont turn the Iranian people onto the side of the mullahs or rather their fellow country men. One off target missle could change the (young) peoples opinions about us.
They ( EU ) thought the ( Kyoto ) treaty made sense , but, president Bush thought it didn't.
Yes, the reason the ( EU ) thought that the Kyoto treaty made sense, is because, it would have made the USA weaker economically, and were trying so hard to push this treaty to make the USA weak.
So true.
Moreover, if israel attacks iran or syria, I see no winner in the short term, only a perpetual war for decades to come.
Hopefully America stays out of it and not send our boys and girls to fight an endless war that is not in the interest of the United States.
EXACTLY!
Israel recently purchased hundreds of JDAM's and Bunker Buster Bombs from the United States. They didn't purchase them to pick off suicide bombers now did they :-)
Words to live by. Thanks.
You are a very ignorant person if you propose this kind of action.
What we, and Israel, need to be focused on is defeating a nuclear attack.
And all along I was under the assumption that Israel was an independent country(?)
Do you think peace is possible between the people of Persia and the people of the Holy Land ?
I gotta thank you. When I was in Israel, I felt an incredible sense of security, and pride. The IDF soldiers were always so sweet to our tour group, especially the bubbes that kept mentioning their granddaughters at home and wouldn't it be nice for them to meet. ;-)
I hear that Iran is six mos. away from building a nuclear weapon. We are living in crazy times. But as you say, there is nothing new under the sun.
Thats what it says alright ..I have a feeling this may be the BIG one coming ..Just a feeling ....
Interesting man Mr.Ben Gurion.
He wasn't Moshiach however.
The geometries of consciousness that are swirling through the zeitgeist are becoming more and more Messianic by the hour.
The prophets were right !
Surely, (yes I'm calling you Shirley) you cannot believe that this is not in our interest. This is in the whole world's interest!
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