Bush: U.S. Ready to Help Iran After Quake

Yahoo! News ^ | Fri, Dec 26, 2003 | Caren Bohan

[F14 Pilot]

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - President Bush expressed sympathy for Iran on Friday after an earthquake there killed more than 20,000 people and offered support for a country he has deemed part of an "axis of evil."

Laura and I heard this morning of the earthquake centered in the city of Bam, Iran," Bush said in a statement from his ranch, where he will spend the New Year's holiday with his wife, Laura, and other family members.

"We are greatly saddened by the loss of life, injuries and widespread damage to this ancient city," he said. "I extend my condolences to all those touched by this tragedy."

"The thoughts of all Americans are with the victims and their families at this time, and we stand ready to help the people of Iran," Bush added.

In addition to the 20,000 believed to be dead, tens of thousands of people were injured in the quake, which destroyed much of city of Bam. The historic city is a popular tourist spot some 600 miles southeast of the capital, Tehran.

A Bush spokesman said Washington would be offering humanitarian aid to Iran but it was unclear how that offer would be extended since the United States has no official ties with Tehran.

A U.S. official said the State Department would be spelling out an aid package soon.

The United States has had tense relations with Iran for more than two decades. Washington broke diplomatic relations with Iran in 1979 after militant students stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days.

In January 2002, Bush said Iran, pre-war Iraq and North Korea (news - web sites) made up an "axis of evil." Washington has accused Iran's government of secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons.

The United States joins the United Nations, the European Union and other countries such as Russia which are also promising help to the Iranian quake victims.

"This is a terrible tragedy and we all come together behind the Iranian people at a time like this to assist those who have been injured and those families who have been impacted," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters.

[F14 Pilot]

President George W. Bush

[farmfriend]

bttt

[F14 Pilot]

Humanitarian Ping~! Presidential Ping~!

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

A U.S. official said the State Department would be spelling out an aid package soon.

150 Abrams Tanks.
125000 US Troops
25 B-52's
10 B-1's
Plus various and sundry other goodies.

[F14 Pilot]

And what does this mean?

[dc-zoo]

Perhaps a food for nukes program is in order.

[RandallFlagg]

I'm suprised that the rats haven't yet blamed Bush for the quake:

"We are looking into the possibility that the continuous bombing of a nation right next dooe to Iran might have weakened the plates and caused the quake"

I wouldn't be one bit suprised if this happened. Have they blamed Bush for the Mars mission yet?

[RandallFlagg]

door = door

Dangnabbit!

[F14 Pilot]

Mmmm, Good are these the same things Fascist saying?

[RandallFlagg]

I just know how these people think. They blamed Bush for Columbia, remember?

[RoarkMan]

LOL

[Bobby777]

This is what makes America a great country ... we'll help out when a country like Iran suffers such a tragedy ... perhaps the Iranian people will learn from this (I know many of them are moderates) ... if only we could get their mullahs out of power ...

[tbeatty]

I wonder if terrorists will be taking shots at aid workers in Bam.

[rightisright]

Some of them have:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=960877

[South40]

Bush: U.S. Ready to Help Iran After Quake

It won't matter...they'll still hate the US.

[F14 Pilot]

I am sorry to hear such stupid remarks... You should learn more. It sounds so stupid and cruel!

[F14 Pilot]

They Love The USA.

[risk]

What do we want to bet that Hillary, Dean, or Clark would have said nothing, and still would have said nothing by a week after the disaster.

[South40]

Sure they do. In fact, all Muslims love the USA.

[RandallFlagg]

*sigh*

It figures...