US President George W. Bush today called Iran the “single biggest threat” to peace in the Middle East. Bush was answering a question at Israel’s Channel 10 TV, “To me it's the single biggest threat to peace in the Middle East, the Iranian regime.” [AFP, 12 May].
Bush blamed Iran for the situation in Lebanon, “Their funding of Hezbollah -- look what's happening in Lebanon now, a young democracy trying to survive.”
“By the way it's in Israel's interest that the Lebanese democracy survives. You need to be concerned about Iran and you are concerned about Iran and so are we,” Bush said.
Bush is to arrive in Israel on Wednesday on a three-day stay in celebration of Israel’s 60th birthday. The president will also visit Saudi Arabia and Egypt. He will also meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordanian King Abdullah in Egypt.
Showing posts with label President Bush. Show all posts
Showing posts with label President Bush. Show all posts
Monday, May 12, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Back to Pre-NIE Days!
During his visit to Gulf Arab states, President Bush urged their leaders to join him in confronting Iran, “before it’s too late.” He described Iran as “the world's leading state sponsor of terror.”
A leading state sponsor of terror with a strong military and proven nuclear capability is a threat to all countries in the region, Bush told the Arab leaders. Iran must be stopped now. That was the message.
Iran accused President Bush of fanning “Iranophobia.” Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki said fanning Iranophobia was “the objective of Bush's visit to the region.”
The Strait of Hormuz incident could have provided the pretext for the start of an armed conflict. The threatening radio message that brought US and Iranian ships to the brink of a shootout in the Persian Gulf may have been a prank by the notorious “Filipino Monkey.” The US Navy, however, did not consider the behavior of IRGC boats as a hoax.
The commander of US naval forces in the region told President Bush that the confrontation with Iranian boats was “deadly seriously.”
The Europeans and the Israelis issued their own warnings on Iran. French foreign ministry spokesperson Pascale Andreani said “that pursuit of a military, nuclear program by Iran is absolutely unacceptable.”
French President Nicolas Sarkozy started his own tour of the Persian Gulf and signed an agreement with UAE to station French troops and to build a military base there, across the water from Iran. This is the first time that the French troops would have a permanent base in the Persian Gulf.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany's stance toward Iran remains unchanged. Merkel called on Iran to halt its uranium enrichment program.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert issued his strongest warning yet that he is prepared to use military force against Iran.
“All options are on the table,” said Olmert. “As far as Israel is concerned, the Iranians are continuing efforts to produce non-conventional weapons and, therefore, we must use all the means at our disposal to stop them.”
It seems that we are back to pre-NIE days, at least for this week.
A leading state sponsor of terror with a strong military and proven nuclear capability is a threat to all countries in the region, Bush told the Arab leaders. Iran must be stopped now. That was the message.
Iran accused President Bush of fanning “Iranophobia.” Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki said fanning Iranophobia was “the objective of Bush's visit to the region.”
The Strait of Hormuz incident could have provided the pretext for the start of an armed conflict. The threatening radio message that brought US and Iranian ships to the brink of a shootout in the Persian Gulf may have been a prank by the notorious “Filipino Monkey.” The US Navy, however, did not consider the behavior of IRGC boats as a hoax.
The commander of US naval forces in the region told President Bush that the confrontation with Iranian boats was “deadly seriously.”
The Europeans and the Israelis issued their own warnings on Iran. French foreign ministry spokesperson Pascale Andreani said “that pursuit of a military, nuclear program by Iran is absolutely unacceptable.”
French President Nicolas Sarkozy started his own tour of the Persian Gulf and signed an agreement with UAE to station French troops and to build a military base there, across the water from Iran. This is the first time that the French troops would have a permanent base in the Persian Gulf.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany's stance toward Iran remains unchanged. Merkel called on Iran to halt its uranium enrichment program.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert issued his strongest warning yet that he is prepared to use military force against Iran.
“All options are on the table,” said Olmert. “As far as Israel is concerned, the Iranians are continuing efforts to produce non-conventional weapons and, therefore, we must use all the means at our disposal to stop them.”
It seems that we are back to pre-NIE days, at least for this week.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Bush Says No Attacks on Iran
President Bush told Al Arabiya TV on Saturday that US is not gearing up to attack Iran. Bush said he remains committed to resolve the nuclear standoff diplomatically.
President Bush said however that Iran needs to suspend its nuclear program. Iran today again ruled out any possibility of suspension of uranium enrichment. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman said President Bush’s condition for suspension of enrichment is not acceptable.
President Bush said however that Iran needs to suspend its nuclear program. Iran today again ruled out any possibility of suspension of uranium enrichment. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman said President Bush’s condition for suspension of enrichment is not acceptable.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
President Bush Threatens Iran
President Bush delivering his starkest warning against the Islamic Republic . Timesonline
President Bush today launched his strongest attack on Islamic Republic, accusing it of threatening to place the Middle East under the shadow of a nuclear holocaust. President Bush said he has authorized US military commanders in Iraq to confront Iran’s “murderous activities.”
The president accused his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, of openly supporting violent forces within Iraq. Bush implicitly called for a regime change in Iran, calling for “an Iran whose government is accountable to its people, instead of leaders who promote terror and pursue technology that could be used to develop nuclear weapons.”
Hours after the president’s speech, US troops detained two Iranian diplomats and six members of an Iranian delegation visiting Baghdad to negotiate business contracts with Iraqi officials. They were blindfolded and handcuffed before being taken away from their hotel. Their luggage and computer equipment were also confiscated. The US military holds another five Iranian official since January. The five were arrested in the Iraqi northern city of Irbil and the US military contends that among them is the chief of operations of the Revolutionary Guards’ notorious Quds Force.
The president accused his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, of openly supporting violent forces within Iraq. Bush implicitly called for a regime change in Iran, calling for “an Iran whose government is accountable to its people, instead of leaders who promote terror and pursue technology that could be used to develop nuclear weapons.”
Hours after the president’s speech, US troops detained two Iranian diplomats and six members of an Iranian delegation visiting Baghdad to negotiate business contracts with Iraqi officials. They were blindfolded and handcuffed before being taken away from their hotel. Their luggage and computer equipment were also confiscated. The US military holds another five Iranian official since January. The five were arrested in the Iraqi northern city of Irbil and the US military contends that among them is the chief of operations of the Revolutionary Guards’ notorious Quds Force.
News from Iran
The worsening Iran-US relations dominated the coverage in the Iranian media. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said today that the US and its allies were planning to attack Iran, even setting the hour of the attack. Ahmadinejad claimed that the US, bugged in Iraq, is no longer planning to attack Iran. President Bush also today sounded stern warnings against Iran’s nuclear weapon development and its support of terrorist groups in Iraq. Adding to the growing tensions between the two countries, the US troops arrested two Iranian diplomats and six members of an Iranian delegation visiting Baghdad hours after President Bush's speech. In January, US troops detained five Iranian officials in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil. The five also remain in US custody.
On the military front, Iran’s military industry unveiled a long-range 2000-pound guided bomb, named “Ghassed” (Messenger), designed for precision strikes against ground targets. During a ceremony announcing the news, the Iranian defense minister said that Ghassed will be used against those who would infiltrate Iran’s airspace or territory. The defense minister said Iran was ready to hit the enemy’s strategic targets and military bases. He also announced the manufacturing of a new 35-mm “Pasdar-e Aseman” (Sky Guard) anti-aircraft gun and a new destroyer named “Mouj” (Wave). Earlier in the month, Iran had announced the manufacturing of its second jet fighter plane, named “Azarakhsh” (Lihjtening). The minister, Brig. Gen. Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, told reporters that Iran has “the highest level of air, ground and sea strength and readiness” (IRNA, 23 August).
On domestic front, a report in the moderate newspaper Kargozaran warned against the possibility of meddling in the upcoming Majlis election by military personnel, a code name for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC). President Ahmadinejad named a top ranking IRGC officer to the post of deputy interior minister in charge of the elections. Earlier in the week, the Iranian chief of staff Maj. Gen. Hassan Firuzabadi had criticized moderate and reformist politicians who attack Ahmadinejad’s government. Iran's constitution prohibits the armed forces from intervention in political matters.
On the regional issues, the Iranian government spokesman denied that Iran is shelling Iraqi Kurdistan villages. The Kurdish parliament condemned Iran’s shelling of the Haji Umran district near Kurdish-Iranian border.
On the military front, Iran’s military industry unveiled a long-range 2000-pound guided bomb, named “Ghassed” (Messenger), designed for precision strikes against ground targets. During a ceremony announcing the news, the Iranian defense minister said that Ghassed will be used against those who would infiltrate Iran’s airspace or territory. The defense minister said Iran was ready to hit the enemy’s strategic targets and military bases. He also announced the manufacturing of a new 35-mm “Pasdar-e Aseman” (Sky Guard) anti-aircraft gun and a new destroyer named “Mouj” (Wave). Earlier in the month, Iran had announced the manufacturing of its second jet fighter plane, named “Azarakhsh” (Lihjtening). The minister, Brig. Gen. Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, told reporters that Iran has “the highest level of air, ground and sea strength and readiness” (IRNA, 23 August).
On domestic front, a report in the moderate newspaper Kargozaran warned against the possibility of meddling in the upcoming Majlis election by military personnel, a code name for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC). President Ahmadinejad named a top ranking IRGC officer to the post of deputy interior minister in charge of the elections. Earlier in the week, the Iranian chief of staff Maj. Gen. Hassan Firuzabadi had criticized moderate and reformist politicians who attack Ahmadinejad’s government. Iran's constitution prohibits the armed forces from intervention in political matters.
On the regional issues, the Iranian government spokesman denied that Iran is shelling Iraqi Kurdistan villages. The Kurdish parliament condemned Iran’s shelling of the Haji Umran district near Kurdish-Iranian border.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Writer Says Strike against Iran is Forthcoming
Bob Baer, a former CIA operative whose book about his life inspired the thriller Syriana, says he was told by senior intelligence officials that the US will attack Iran in the months ahead. Baer who is working on a new book on Iran told The Weekend Australian that his contacts have advised him that his book’s scheduled January submission is “probably going to be too late.”
Washington is abuzz these days about possible military action against Iran, which is reportedly being weighed at the highest levels of the Bush administration. The latest speculation has been a surgical strike on the Revolutionary Guards.
The New York Times reported last week that the Bush administration was preparing to declare the Revolutionary Guards a foreign terrorist organization, signaling a confrontational turn in the administration's approach to Iran.
Washington is abuzz these days about possible military action against Iran, which is reportedly being weighed at the highest levels of the Bush administration. The latest speculation has been a surgical strike on the Revolutionary Guards.
The New York Times reported last week that the Bush administration was preparing to declare the Revolutionary Guards a foreign terrorist organization, signaling a confrontational turn in the administration's approach to Iran.
Monday, August 6, 2007
US To Continue Isolating Iran
President Bush said today that he would continue efforts to isolate Iran because the Islamic Republic is “not a force for good” in the world and because they have a destabilizing influence wherever they operate.
Standing next to Afghan President Hamid Karzai at Camp David, the president told reporters that because of the actions taken by the US government, Iran is isolated and the US will continue to work to isolate it further.
Yesterday, a senior US army commander in Iraq, Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, accused Iran for increasing its supply of weapons and training to Shia militias in Iraq. Gen. Odierno said the Shia militias were responsible for two-thirds of the attacks in Baghdad that has killed or injured US troops.
Standing next to Afghan President Hamid Karzai at Camp David, the president told reporters that because of the actions taken by the US government, Iran is isolated and the US will continue to work to isolate it further.
Yesterday, a senior US army commander in Iraq, Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, accused Iran for increasing its supply of weapons and training to Shia militias in Iraq. Gen. Odierno said the Shia militias were responsible for two-thirds of the attacks in Baghdad that has killed or injured US troops.
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