Posted on 06/18/2003 4:24:39 PM PDT by HAL9000
BC-APNewsAlertMORE...WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush says he "will not tolerate'' nuclear weapon in Iran
Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
So if they have more than one, that's ok? ;-D
Bush Warns Iran Against Nuclear Weapons
By SCOTT LINDLAW
Associated Press WriterWASHINGTON - President Bush said Wednesday that he and other world leaders would not tolerate nuclear weapons in Iran, and administration officials expressed concern to the U.N. nuclear agency about the country's atomic program.
Bush also urged Iranian leaders to treat protesters with "the utmost of respect" as they seek the ouster of the Islamic government.
Though Bush's words of warning were strong, he gave no indication that Iran, which he has characterized as part of an "axis of evil" along with Iraq and North Korea, might face military action under his policy allowing pre-emptive attacks where he sees threats.
Iran is thought by U.S. officials to be developing nuclear weapons, though the Iranian government denies it. Iran's chief representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Ali Akbar Salehi, rejected allegations that his government failed to honor promises made under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which aims to stop the spread of nuclear weapons.
"Iran considers the acquiring, development and use of nuclear weapons inhuman, immoral, illegal and against its very principles," he said. "They have no place in Iran's defensive doctrine."
Bush suggested he did not believe such denials.
"The international community must come together to make it very clear to Iran that we will not tolerate construction of a nuclear weapon," Bush told reporters at the end of a meeting in the White House Cabinet Room. "Iran would be dangerous if it had a nuclear weapon."
Bush said he had brought the matter of nuclear weapons up with other leaders at this month's Group of Eight meeting of industrial powers, plus Russia.
"There was near-universal agreement that we all must work together to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon," he said.
Iran has an advanced missile program and maintains ties to terrorist groups, possibly including al-Qaida, the administration has asserted, and is run by conservative mullahs who are deeply hostile toward the United States.
The Bush administration is banking on diplomatic pressure to encourage Iran to rethink its nuclear program. It is confident that the board of governors of the IAEA, meeting this week, will find Iran to be in violation of the nuclear treaty. Such a step could put the issue before the U.N. Security Council.
At an IAEA board meeting Wednesday in Austria, the United States demanded that Iran submit to more intrusive inspections after what it called a "deeply troubling" report from the nuclear agency.
U.S. Ambassador Kenneth Brill criticized Iran in a statement delivered to the agency, noting that the U.N. report found the Islamic government failed to declare how it used nuclear material.
"The United States finds the substance of the ... report deeply troubling," Brill said. "Although the investigations are continuing, the report already confirms that Iran's nuclear program is cause for great concern."
In Tehran and other cities, there were violent clashes last week as pro-government forces put down student-led protests demanding an end to clerical rule. Those protests have largely died down in the past few days.
Bush paid tribute to "those courageous souls who speak out for freedom in Iran."
"They need to know America stands squarely by their side, and I would urge the Iran government to treat them with the utmost of respect," he said.
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said Wednesday that American support for student-led protests only serves to unite his country against the United States.
"The incorrect position adopted by the Americans, irrespective of the fact that it was an act of interference in Iran's internal affairs, fortunately caused greater national solidarity," the president told reporters after meeting with the Afghan and Tajik presidents.
Because you don't want to wait until there's a clear and present danger when nukes are involved. All the rules change when a country gets nukes. Why do you think we haven't wasted North Korea? Because they have nukes, and because China has nukes. It severely limits our options.
Besides, arrogant is not a four letter word. We do this because we can, it's as simple as that.
Mutual Assured Destruction works against enemies who can be considered rational, such as the Soviet Union or China, but it may not work against lunatics or people who want to die for their religion.
We decide who can or can't have these weapons based on their perceived threat to us. That's self-preservation, and if it seems arrogant, then so be it.
After what happened on 9/11....anyone even looks crossed eyed at us gets a butt kicking.
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