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The United States has withdrawn its ambassador to Syria, Margaret Scobey, and that "indicates that the relationship is not moving forward," the president said.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.
The new F-15Is and F-16Is are equipped with special Israeli made fuel tanks so those jets are capable reaching targets as far as Afganisthan, without refuling.
Iran is within range.
So true!
And finally a president who knows honor and has a strong commitment to the truth.
I wonder if the Iranian mullahs even care about the potential loss life among their people? I'd like to see some surgical strikes to take down the government, all military installations, and all "holy sites." What's scary is that one of their key leaders is publicly on record saying that the minute they have an operational nuke, it will be dropped on Israel.
Excellent! You guys rock! I'm glad we're on your side.
"The point is to stop Iran before "dropping a bomb", because if Iran drops a bomb, there will be no need for US military aid-
The middle east will be wiped out by the Israeli response."This is total truth!!! This is not 1939-1945 not again Izrael have power now many country Egipt Jordania Syria Leban itp...do know this power 1948–49 1956 1967 1973–74 1981 1982 Thank you
If Israel doesn't "rock", there will be no Israel to talk about.
We learned the lesson from 1948 (Independence War), 1956 (Sinai War), 1963-67 (War Over the Water), 1967 (Six Day War), 1969-70 (War of Attrition), 1973 (Yom Kippur War), 1981 (The destruction of the Iraqi nuclear reactor), 1982 (Operation Peace For Galilee- Lebanon War), 2000-2005 (Palestinian "Intifada") :)
Chuckle!
Does anyone have a reliable source for what the actual (behind the scenes/secret) security arrangement is between the US and Israel.
My guess-
1. Israeli bases and aircraft would assist the US and fly joint missions; if they were needed in a major crisis.
In the long run it is cheaper for the US to give Israel modern Aircraft and let the Israelis fly, base and maintain the planes; than it is for us to maintain another 10 carrier battle groups.(We give them several billion in foreign aid which they turn around and use to buy military aircraft from us. Originally this was done to counteract threat of Soviet seizure of gulf oil)
2. If the survival of Israel was really at stake the US would step in, immediately.
3. A nuclear or large scale WMD attack on Israel would bring massive US retaliation.
4. CIA, NSA, FBI and State department contain dozens of Israeli sympathizers/agents. The US accepts the fact, that it can keep no secrets from Israeli security. (Pollard was prosecuted because the US was unhappy that the info he stole ended up in Soviet hands)
5. Israel will not use nuclear weapons without US approval. They will not mount a major attack (outside of Lebanon or Syria) without US Approval.
6. Mossad is free to operate in US; but may only kill actual foreign agents.
7. US Israeli, AWACS and other communication and combat control systems are compatible, have been tested and work together.
This is the same Israel that for years did nothing while hundreds of its citizens were bombed in its streets?.
The same Israel that allowed the biggest killer of Jews since Hitler to live in Israel?
The same Israel that is currently capitulating to terrorists?
The only "response" Israel has given to genocidal terror is to bend over and take it, which is why we're talking about nukes today.
Bad strategy.
I must say that you are terribly wrong in some parts of your guess.
Yeah, that and stopping some massive Arab armies, 7 times, from destroying the state, plus preforming operations such as the Entebbe Operation of 1976, Iraq's nuclear reactor bombing of 1981, PLO bombings in Tunis of 1985 and thats only 1% of the operations you know about (because 99% are secret).
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/863049/posts
No they don't care. All that matters is the destruction of Israel.
We always pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Bless you all.
Many thanks for the link.
Thank you!
May you be blessed back.
The Israel of old is not the Israel of today.
On a related topic, even Dr. Daniel Pipes just stated he didn't think Israel was capable of eliminating Iran's nuclear program.
Osirak was almost a quarter century ago. The Iranians learned from their mistake.
You forgot my favorite, taking Syria's SAM's out of Beruit with a flight of "modified" A-4 Skyhawks without a single plane lost.
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