Bush raises option of using force against Iran
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – U.S. President George W. Bush said on Israeli television he could consider using force as a last resort to press Iran to give up its nuclear programme.
“All options are on the table,” Bush, speaking at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, said in the interview broadcast on Saturday.
Asked if that included the use of force, Bush replied: “As I say, all options are on the table. The use of force is the last option for any president and you know, we’ve used force in the recent past to secure our country.”
U.S. President George W. Bush speaks alongside senior administration figures following their meeting on defense issues on his ranch in Crawford, Texas, August 11, 2005. Pictured behind Bush are Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (L) and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. (REUTERS/Jason Reed)
Iran angered the European Union and the United States by resuming uranium conversion at the Isfahan plant last Monday after rejecting an EU offer of political and economic incentives in return for giving up its nuclear programme.Tehran says it aims only to produce electricity and denies Western accusations it is seeking a nuclear bomb
Doesn’t Bush understand things such as economic incentives and diplomacy. Can’t he remember what happened when he used force tactics in Iraq? Gah!
That’s it. I’m moving to Canada.
There is still a lot of support here in the U.S. for the armed conflict in Iraq. The base which supports it, may or may not support a U.S. invasion of Iran. I don’t believe it would be a popular move, but the Bush administration doesn’t appear to be making plans based on popular opinion. The efforts in Iraq started with bombing. If the U.S. starts bombing Iran, which is one option, it will create a great deal more uncertainty. It may solve a problem, while creating many more problems. An all out war in Iran would raise the stakes at the table. All options are on the table. You have to play the hand you are dealt. In war the jokers are wild.
Sigh.
He said that the president always has this option. Also they specifically asked him if the use of force was one solution.
They looked at Iraq. The figure the only insurance they have against an outside aggression is a viable nuclear deterrent. I’m surprised for a few million an operable warheads couldn’t be had from ex-Soviet arsenals. They don’t need to reach the US, or even Europe. They can use the threat of firing a single missile on Israel. You may not like them or their religion, but they’re not stupid. No comment on the masterpiece of international diplomacy that lead to this.
Does anyone feel that DRAFT?
“The use of force is the last option for any president and you know, we’ve used force in the recent past to secure our country.”
Secure our country? Recently? You don’t say! Can you be more specific?
Here I thought the sudden interest in reducing US troops in Iraq was a cynical ploy leading-up to the 2006 elections.
Silly me. We need those troops for the invasion of Iran. 🙁
If he want’s to put troops in Iran, he’s going to have to reinstate the Draft. There is no way in hell anyone is going to volunteer for the military at this point.
If you don’t stop him, he’ll go ahead with anything his sick mind choses…
Hitler was dumb enough to go to war on two fronts. He destroyed Germany instead.
Herr Bush seems to want to go to war on 3 fronts… Even if the US economy can take it without being crippled for the next 3 or 4 decades, which I doubt, do you really think China will not take the cue and invade Taiwan? What about N. Korea? How is the US going to solve those 2 tough cookies if they happen? With nukes? Is this how a 3rd world war starts?
He can start a war in Iran as long as Jenna and Barb get to go first.
Heck, this looks like a good opportunity to secure some real estate in Canada that may soon appreciate highly with a huge new supply of American immigrants. : ) Then America will have to coral all the illegal immigrants and send them to the Middle East to fight for their green cards and legal citizenship which would likely just end up quickly solving the illegal immigration problem here. No habla English…Bienvenidos! al U.S. Army. Es una adventura de Americana.