Posted on 11/28/2006 12:25:03 PM PST by yoe
Some major U.S. news networks are now describing the violence in Iraq as "civil war," but President Bush is refusing to go that far.
At a news conference in Estonia Tuesday morning, President Bush said Iraq is engulfed in "sectarian violence" fomented by al Qaeda and other extremists who can't stand the idea of a democratic nation in the heart of the Middle East.
"We've been in this phase for a while," Bush said. He said the recent bombings "are part of a pattern that has been going on for about nine months" - ever since the bombing of a Shi'ite shrine in Samarra last February.
The bombing of the al-Askari shrine and the destruction of its famous golden dome succeeded in establishing a pattern of attacks and reprisals, Bush said.
He said he'll discuss the continuing sectarian violence with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki when the two men meet in Jordan on Thursday.
"My questions to him will be, 'What do we need to do to succeed? What is your strategy in dealing with this sectarian violence?'"
President Bush said he'll assure Maliki that the U.S. will continue to pursue al Qaeda to prevent the terrorist group from establishing a "safe haven" in Iraq.
President Bush also mentioned the violence in Lebanon, where a "young democracy" is being "undermined" by "extremist forces" encouraged by Syria and Iran.
"We're trying to help get a democracy started in the Palestinian territories," Bush said. "[Israeli] Prime Minister Olmert has reached out, at one point, to [Palestinian] President Abbas. And you know what happens as soon as he does that? Extremists attack, because they can't stand the thought of a democracy.
"And the same thing is happening in Iraq. And it's in our mutual interest that we help this government succeed."
President Bush admitted it's a "tough" situation, as the attacks and reprisals continue in Iraq. But he said the vast majority of the Iraqi people want to live in peace. "And our objective must be to help them realize their dreams."
He described what's happening in Iraq as "an important part of an ideological struggle."
Syria and Iran
President Bush noted that Iraq, as a sovereign nation that conducts its own foreign policy, is welcome to hold direct talks with Iran and Syria. "I hope their talks yield results," he said.
President Bush also said Iraq would like the Iranians to leave them alone. "If Iran is going to be involved in their country, they ought to be involved in a constructive way - encouraging peace. That is the message that the Iraqis have delivered to the Iranians," Bush said.
He said the Iranians and the Syrians should help - rather than destabilize - the young Iraqi democracy.
As for direct talks between Iran and the U.S., President Bush said Iran knows exactly what it must do to "get to the table" with the United States - and that is to "verifiably suspend their [uranium] enrichment program."
"One of the concerns that I have about the Iranian regime is their desire to develop a nuclear weapon. And you ought to be concerned about it too. The idea of this regime having a nuclear weapon by which they can blackmail the world is unacceptable to free nations."
Bush said that's why the U.S. is working with the United Nations "to send a clear message" to Iran - that "there is a better way forward for the Iranian people."
""My questions to him will be, 'What do we need to do to succeed? What is your strategy in dealing with this sectarian violence?'"
Round up all the Imam's in Iran and Syria and put them in prison or better yet..............
If this is a civil war, then Crips v Bloods in LA is a civil war.
I'm voting for the "or better yet".
The despicable nature of this carnage makes me want to do very evil things to these perps.
According to NBC's definition of a "civil war," France is in the middle of one. And, let's not forget the civil war in South Africa, one of the most violent countries in the world.
My first question for President Bush would be, "Why aren't you meeting the Iraqi President in, you know, Iraq?"
Well are WE winning that one?
"Why aren't you meeting the Iraqi President in, you know, Iraq?"
Poor weather is forecast for the trip: fair to partly cloudy, with scattered sectarian violence.
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