Posted on 01/12/2007 1:44:21 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
WASHINGTON, Jan 12 (Reuters) - The United States denied on Friday it was preparing for military action against Iran and Syria, after President George W. Bush issued a stern warning to them, raising concerns of a spillover from the Iraq war.
Bush, in his speech on Wednesday unveiling his revised Iraq strategy, accused Tehran and Damascus of allowing use of their territory for launching attacks inside Iraq, and vowed "we will interrupt the flow of support."
U.S. lawmakers voiced concern on Thursday the Iraq war could spread to neighboring Iran and Syria if U.S. troops were to chase militants across the border. But U.S. officials insisted the plan was to disrupt supply lines from inside Iraq.
White House spokesman Tony Snow said he wanted to knock down an "urban legend" that Bush was "trying to prepare the way for war with either country and that there were war preparations under way."
"There are not," he told reporters. "What the president was talking about is defending American forces within Iraq."
"There's lots of war gaming," he added. "This notion that somehow the president was announcing as a precursor to planned military action, a planned war against Iran, that's just not the case."
Snow reiterated that Washington was focusing on diplomatic means against Iran over its nuclear program. Western powers say Tehran is trying to develop nuclear weapons. Iran says it wants nuclear technology for civilian power generation.
The United States has repeatedly accused Shi'ite Iran of meddling in Iraq, where the long-oppressed Shi'ite majority is now in power and sectarian violence is raging. Tehran denies U.S. charges that it supplies Shi'ite militias with weapons.
Bush also said he had ordered an additional aircraft carrier strike group to the region and would deploy Patriot missile defense systems to "reassure our friends and allies" -- steps widely seen as a warning to Iran and Syria.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joseph Biden bluntly told U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Thursday he did not think Bush had the authority to launch attacks against militant networks in Iran and Syria.
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Just found this:
US Must Be Willing To Take Military Action Against Iran: Senator McCain ...01/15/2006
wink wink, nudge nudge
Hint Hint...Nudge Nudge..
fyi
It's good that they're denying it even if they're planning it. All options are always on the table but don't advertise them.
Ask Biden who's paying him to say that. When the talking points of the enemy and the democrats become indistiguishable is it not time to ask this question?
If Boxer can question Rice's stake in and commitment to the future of America, so too can we ask that question of people like Biden.
fyi
Allegations! allegations!
nothing but
Baseless b/s
unfounded allegations
without any basis in reality.
those who assert this are an insult to our intelligence!
why would we want to have any military plans against our brothers in peace, Syria and Iran?
Boxers comments were outrageous!
Failed to ping you.
Earth to solons: There is no "Iraq War". There's a War On Jihadism and Iran and Syria have been the enemy for quite some time. If we DON'T "spread the war" to them we're going to lose it. Sorry, but that's the reality. Those who deny it in order to purchase a little deceptive "peace in our time" are storing up much more trouble for the not too distant future.
I'm shocked. I expected the US to confirm it had plans for military action against Iran and Syria...
We can always apologize after the carpet-bombing. "It was dark in the cockpit and on the map the word 'Iran' looks a lot like the word 'Iraq' - I bet it's happened to you." They'll understand.
Boxer has a special knack for infuriating people. Do you remember the scene on the steps of the State Courthouse in Tallahassee back in 2000 when Gore and the trial lawyers attempted a coup? She almost started a second civil war with that showing.
No, but the US will lots of folks available if Iran get froggy.
And I think she has a Jewish background....but I guess being progressive and all that means leaving that behind...
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