Bush: `Iran is a threat to world peace'

AP on Yahoo ^ | 1/09/08 | Anne Gearan - ap

[NormsRevenge]

JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Wednesday that "there will be no peace" unless attacks are halted from all parts of the Palestinian territories, including those not controlled by his negotiating partners in the Palestinian leadership. But he said that both sides "are very seriously trying to move forward" on a deal.

"Israel does not tolerate and will not tolerate the continuation of these vicious attacks," Olmert said, after two and a half hours of talks with President Bush. "We will not hesitate to take all the necessary measures. There will be no peace unless terror is stopped. And terror will have to be stopped everywhere."

On the first day of his eight-day Mideast trip aimed at pushing the Israelis and Palestinians toward an agreement, Bush declared there is a "historic moment, a historic opportunity." But he also said: "I'm under no illusions. This is going to be hard work."

"America cannot dictate the terms of what a state will look like," he added. "We'll help."

Earlier Wednesday, an Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza killed two Palestinians and wounded four others, a move the Israeli army said was taken in response to Palestinian militants who had bombarded the rocket-scarred southern Israeli city of Sderot with rocket and mortar fire.

Bush said he and Olmert also discussed Iran's nuclear weapons ambitions and an incident Sunday when Iranian boats harassed and provoked three American Navy ships in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. U.S. officials said Iran threatened to explode the vessels, but the incident ended peacefully.

Bush said Iran continues to be a "threat to world peace."

"It was a very dangerous gesture on their part," he said about the incident at sea. "They know our position and that is there will be serious consequences if they attack our ships — pure and simple. My advice to them is don't do it."

Bush found himself challenged by his Israeli allies on a recent U.S. intelligence report saying Iran halted a nuclear weapons program in 2003. Tehran's nuclear ambitions are a chief fear in Israel, and the U.S. report led some in the region — both Israelis and Arab nations concerned about rising Iranian influence — to doubt the U.S. commitment to reining Tehran in.

"The fact that they suspended the program was heartening," Bush said. "The fact that they had one was discouraging because they could restart it."

Bush's arrival in Israel came amid ongoing land squabbles and fears of violence. There's been little headway since he hosted a splashy Mideast conference in November in Annapolis, which launched the first major peace talks in seven years.

But Olmert, despite his tough words on terror attacks, spoke optimistically as well.

"Your visit is timely and is very important to encourage the process that you and Secretary Rice helped start in Annapolis few weeks ago and that we, both sides I believe are very seriously trying to move forward with now in order to realize the vision of a two-state solution," the Israeli leader said.

Bush said he believes both Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas" are determined to make the hard choices necessary."

"Am I nudging them forward? Well, my trip was a pretty significant nudge because yesterday they had a meeting," he said. And he said he would step in when and if his involvement is needed. "You know me well enough to know I'll be more than willing to provide it," Bush said.

Bush and his team stepped into a tricky issue — Palestinian anger about Israeli plans to build new housing in east Jerusalem and the West Bank. Those areas were captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war and are claimed by the Palestinians for their future state.

Of Jewish settlements in the disputed areas, Bush said simply "They're illegal and they've got to go."

Earlier, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also said that Israeli construction in Palestinian-claimed east Jerusalem constitutes settlement activity and is opposed by the U.S. Rice's comments, published in The Jerusalem Post daily, marked the U.S. administration's strongest criticism yet of Israeli policies in disputed east Jerusalem. The Palestinians are expected to put settlements at the top of their agenda when they meet Bush on Thursday.

Said Olmert: "We must abide by our commitments and we shall do so."

Bush also indicated a willingness to address Israel's concerns with the Palestinians. Israel has demanded that Palestinian forces do more to rein in militants in the West Bank. Since Olmert and Abbas last met, two Israelis were killed in the West Bank, and Israeli security forces say members of Abbas' Fatah movement were responsible.

Bush said he would tell Abbas that his territory "cannot be a safe haven for terrorists."

[NormsRevenge]

Right-wing Israeli activists wear kaffiyehs, traditional Arab headdress, as they walk in front of a banner depicting U.S. President George W. Bush during a protest in Jerusalem January 9, 2008. Bush began his first visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories as U.S. president on Wednesday, saying he saw a new opportunity for peace he aims to nurture in the face of deep scepticism. REUTERS/Eliana Aponte (JERUSALEM)

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Palestinian Hamas supporters protest against the visit of President Bush to Israel and the West Bank, in the Gaza City, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008. Bush sought new footing Wednesday to pull Israel and the Palestinians toward serious negotiations that would crown his final year as president, as revived peace talks stumbled over land squabbles and fear of violence. (AP Photo / Hatem Moussa)

[NormsRevenge]

Palestinian Hamas supporters, one holding a banner of a dog with a picture of U.S. President George W. Bush in its mouth, protest against the visit of the U.S. President to Israel and the West Bank, in Gaza City, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008. Thousands of Palestinian hard-liners in Gaza staged protests against George W. Bush on Wednesday, burning Bush in effigy and underscoring the deep political split with West Bank moderates who welcomed the visit of the U.S. president as an important gesture to the Palestinians. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)

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In this photo released by the Government Press Office, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, right, presents President Bush with an Israeli soccer jersey as they meet at the Prime Minister's residence in Jerusalem, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008. U.S. President George W. Bush, seeking to pull Israel and the West Bank towards serious negotiations, said Wednesday he has high hopes that a Mideast peace pact can be achieved before he leaves office next year, despite ongoing land squabbles and continuing violence. (AP Photo/ GPO,Moshe Milner, HO)

[stephenjohnbanker]

Stay safe, Mr. President!

[Diogenesis]

Israeli women react next to a house hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip
that landed in the town of Sderot, southern Israel, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008.
Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip bombarded southern Israel with rocket
and mortar fire Wednesday, striking a house in a border town
shortly before President Bush arrived.

[Deo volente]

"It was a very dangerous gesture on their part," he said about the incident at sea. "They know our position and that is there will be serious consequences if they attack our ships — pure and simple. My advice to them is don't do it."

There should have been serious consequences the other day. Those Iranian gunboats should have been destroyed.

Just let them try it again!

[SJackson]

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[CitizenM]

This was/is just too close. I think action should have been taken immediately against the Iranian ships. Here we are ...all of us so immersed in the election gossip and theories, or some in the actions of Brittany Spears, etc. and this was a major dangerous action that has had little media coverage.

I heard that the Iranians are laughing at us, we appear so weak and so shallow. Unfortunately, it appears to be true much of the time.

[G8 Diplomat]

Bush: `Iran is a threat to world peace'

[G8 Diplomat]

That Hamas guy is holding a sign that looks strikingly similar to what the moonbats carry at protests....

[Salem]

"It's a fact. Al Queda is now firmly entrenched in Gaza with Hamas and Hamas has declared it will take over Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) when Israel hands it over to the Palestinians. We have rearmed and financed Fatah in Gaza only to have them fold and run under Hamas' terrorist tactics. We are in the process of repeating this propping up of Fatah in the West Bank. Now comes President Bush to Israel to reinforce this maddening strategy. Throughout his presidency Mr. Bush has tried to make a distinction between avowed terrorist organizations. Al Queda we'll pursue aggressively and fight to the end in Iraq. The Palestinian Jihadists -- somehow they are different -- Israel must negotiate a peace settlement with them. There will be no peace until a war is waged and won by Israel against the Palestinian Jihadists...." [Rev. James M. Hutchens, Ph.D. Chaplain (Brigadier General) US Army (Ret.) - The Jerusalem Connection]

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[Kevmo]

but, but, but the National Intelligence Estimate says the Iranian Nuclear program was halted, and the Bush administration put out indicators that we should all breathe easier now. Which is it? Only Bush’s barber knows for sure.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

That was just the CIA...

I just posted this :

Iran Naval Clash May Give Bush New Ammo - To convince Allies to get serious ....
Las Vegas Sun ^ | January 09, 2008 at 14:10:5 PST | ROBERT BURNS AP Military Writer

[NormsRevenge]

Thanks!

I was curious if anyone knows the maker of the Iranian navy boats in the Hormuz Strait mix-up.. foreign?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I can’t help on that...someone will likely know though.

[NormsRevenge]

just curious, besides minnesota having breweries and cheese factories when I was a kid, we also had a few boat manufacturers nearby,, evinrude and chriscraft came to mind..

[SkyPilot]

Bush: `Iran is a threat to world peace'

But the Iranian navy can harrass our ships in speedboats, and threatend to blow them up all they want. Hell, we won't fire on them!

[txhurl]

At first I thought that was an Arab muslim girl in that slipnot hoodie, thinking she’s not long for this world.

[johnthebaptistmoore]

Long-term socialism throughout the U.S. will solve everything! Yea! (sarcasm off)