Posted on 02/18/2005 9:38:47 AM PST by areafiftyone
President George W Bush added a new twist to the international tension over Iran's nuclear programme last night by pledging to support Israel if it tries to destroy the Islamic regime's capacity to make an atomic bomb.
Asked whether he would back Israel if it raided Teheran's nuclear facilities, Mr Bush first expressed cautious solidarity with European efforts, led by Britain, France and Germany, to negotiate with Iran.
But he quickly qualified himself, adding that all nations should be concerned about whether Iran could make nuclear weapons.
"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. And in that 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."
His comments appeared to be a departure from the administration's line that there are no plans to attack at present and that Washington backs European diplomatic efforts. The remarks may have reflected Mr Bush's personal thinking on an issue causing deep concern in Washington.
Moments later, Mr Bush was asked another question on Iran and appeared to return to his script - this time emphasising the need for a diplomatic effort.
Speaking days before he arrives in Europe on a tour designed to mend fences with estranged allies, he underscored the differences still hobbling western policy towards the Middle East.
Many figures close to the United States administration believe that the European diplomatic initiative is calculated more to dilute America's hardline approach to weapons of mass destruction than to stop Iran's mullahs building a bomb.
Israel, meanwhile, has given warning about Iran's nuclear ambitions, saying that an Iranian bomb might be only six months away and that such a weapon would pose a grave risk to its security. Mr Bush repeated the reasons for America's anxiety: "Remember, this all started when we found [Iran] enriching uranium in an undeclared fashion, and it happened because somebody told on them."
Iran's long march towards becoming a nuclear power appeared to make a significant step forward yesterday with the opening of a £450 million reactor at Bushehr.
A senior Russian nuclear official said he would go to Iran next week to sign a protocol agreeing the return of spent nuclear fuel, the last remaining obstacle to Bushehr's functioning. This will allow deliveries of Russian nuclear fuel.
The protocol's signing has been repeatedly delayed. It aims to ease concerns that Iran could reprocess spent nuclear fuel from Bushehr to extract plutonium, which could be used in nuclear weapons.
Iran's influential former president, Hashemi Rafsanjani, speaking yesterday after meeting the Syrian prime minister, Mohammad Naji al-Otari, said his country needed to create a powerful alliance with Syria, Iraq and other Arab countries.
Mr Rafsanjani, widely expected to run in Iran's June presidential elections, said the region must "stay completely vigilant vis-a-vis the US and Israeli plots".
America has this week stepped up its rhetoric against Syria following Monday's murder of the former Lebanese premier, Rafik al-Hariri. Pro-Syrian elements have been widely accused of involvement.
Mr Bush called on Syria yesterday to obey a UN resolution demanding that it remove its troops from Lebanon and restore the country's independence.
He said: "We've recalled our ambassador [from Damascus], which indicates the relationship is not moving forward; that Syria is out of step with the progress being made in the greater Middle East."
Good for Bush. No beating around the bush.
One of the reasons why we love W.
My, my, my. Another euro-bed-wetting-surrender-monkey is getting nervous.
Darn right. And if Israel launches, they won't be holding back because of public opinion or political correctness. In other words: enemy bad, see enemy, shoot enemy.
More likely the Americans do the job and blame it on the Israelis. The Israelis get blamed for everything anyway. Mission accomplished and the logistics are easier.
Frankly it was easier the first time Israel did it....at least politically.
Back then Israel mounted up, flew the route where they were most able to move in and out either undetected or unchallenged.
Since we are militarily involved in the region, and since Israelie forces will be moving through airspace now controlled by the US, we are put in the position where we cannot claim we didn't see them, or know what they were up to. We will have given them de facto permission and assistance.
We cannot "deplore" "condemn" or give other diplomatic speak against their actions...we will be complicit in them. And so long as we are assisting Israel in this adventure, we probably should just do it ourselves....
Moments later, Mr Bush was asked another question on Iran and appeared to return to his script - this time emphasising the need for a diplomatic effort.<<<
The press, in this case the Telegraph out of London, usually seems to think Bush makes inadvertant statements expressing his neocon values - and that he didn't mean to let them out - in other words, it was a "slip".
What they fail to realize is that they are watching a supurb poker player at work.
Israel excercised extreme patience and control during the first Gulf War by taking incoming Scuds and allowing the US to respond on it's behalf. Now, knowing that Iranian nukes would not be able to reach the US, and that they'd be the target, restraint isn't the word I be banking on...
The IAF is getting rather restless.
If we back Israel in their stopping Iran from getting Nukes we should allow them to go in and clean up the Palestinian mess once and for all.
Scary, bu true.
Huh? But the Palestinians are now on a course for peace! Didn't Arafat win a noble prize for his efforts? Israel is the problem, not the peace-loving Pali's.
Do I even need to put a sarcasm tag here?
Warm up the jets.
Ping!
Folow up ping, and a request..anyone have any links as to how the Israeli press played up this comment?..
Oh man! The U.N. will have a fit if the Israelis bomb! The Eurocommies will scream bloody murder!
Let's do it!
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