Bush 'all options are on the table' for Iran

Bush 'all options are on the table' for Iran

Sounds like similar rhetoric that was used by Bush in the run-up to
the Iraq war:

Bush says diplomacy is first choice in Iran standoff

By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer
1 minute ago

President Bush said Wednesday that his first choice is to solve a
nuclear standoff with Iran by using diplomacy, but "all options are on
the table."
The president reinforced the possibility of military strike against
Iran, even as a last resort, during a news conference with German
Chancellor Angela Merkel. Bush warned that a nuclear-armed Iran would
be a danger to world peace, and he is rallying European allies to back
sanctions.
The president is pushing Iran to halt its uranium enrichment in a
verifiable way. Iran insists it is enriching only for peaceful
purposes.
Bush said, "I told the chancellor my first choice, of course, is to
solve this diplomatically." He quickly added, "all options are on the
table."
Merkel said if Iran does not agree to suspend its enrichment program,
additional sanctions would be needed.
"The offer has been put on the table to Iran, but ... if Iran does not
meet its commitments, then further sanctions will simply have to
follow," she said.
Europeans want to wait on stiffer sanctions until after the European
Union's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, visits Tehran to present
a package of incentives in exchange for stopping its enrichment
program. The offer, an updated version of one that Iran ignored a few
years ago, was developed by the United States, along with Germany,
Britain, France, Russia and China.
The diplomatic pressure came as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
on Wednesday said Bush's era "has come to an end" and he has failed in
his goals to attack Iran and stop its nuclear program.
Ahmadinejad said pressures and sanctions won't succeed in forcing Iran
to halt its uranium enrichment program. "If the enemy thinks they can
break the Iranian nation with pressure, they are wrong," he said.
Bush, in the midst of a farewell trip through Europe, visited with
Merkel and addressed reporters in another session dominated by Iran.
The U.N. Security Council has imposed three sets of limited sanctions
against Iran for refusing to halt uranium enrichment, a technology
that can be used to produce nuclear fuel or materials for bomb. Iran
continues to defy them.
Bush on Tuesday won new European promises to tighten pressure on
Tehran, possibly with new sanctions. The president had not mentioned
the prospect of "all options" on Tuesday in Slovenia when discussing
Iran, although he has before.
"Our position is that we ought to enforce the sanctions in place and
we ought to work with our allies to levy additional sanctions if they
choose — if the Iranians choose to continue to ignore the demands of
the free world," Bush said.
Merkel said she favors having sanctions decided through the U.N.
Security Council, but that doesn't preclude any discussion within the
European Union about whether there are other punitive measures,
perhaps in the banking sector.
Addressing opponents of taking certain sanctions, Merkel said "Let us
think of the people in Iran. This is what is essential. I think these
people deserve a better outlook. ... And we would hope that the
leadership in Iran would finally see reason."
Bush also was asked about the war in Iraq, and he said the U.S.-led
invasion in 2003 was the right decision.
"I don't regret it at all," Bush said, although he said he wished he
hadn't used some language such as "dead or alive" when talking about
Osama bin Laden or "bring them on" when talking about insurgents in
Iraq.
Bush also said he is not seeking permanent U.S. military bases in
Iraq.
The Bush administration is seeking an agreement with Baghdad that
would provide for a normal, permanent U.S. military and diplomatic
presence in Iraq. The word "permanent" has been a flashpoint for many
who oppose the war, both in the U.S. and Iraq.
Stiff Iraqi opposition has raised to the deal has raised doubts about
whether Bush will be able to get the deal done before he leaves
office.
"I think we'll end up with a strategic agreement in Iraq," Bush said
confidently, yet without indicating a timetable. "There's all kinds of
noise in their system and our system. What ultimately will win out is
the truth."
Bush said the United States is in Iraq at the invitation of the
sovereign government there, and that accounts that the U.S. is seeking
permanent military bases are "erroneous."
The two leaders also discussed climate change, Afghanistan, how the
demand for biofuels is exerting upward pressure on food prices and
trade.
Merkel said she has not given up hopes of completing global trade
negotiations being conducted under the auspices of the World Trade
Organization. However, the so-called Doha Round of trade negotiations
is at an impasse because of battles between wealthy countries and
developing nations over such issues as farm subsidies.
Earlier, Bush strolled with Merkel at Schloss Meseberg, the German
government's main guesthouse. After a countryside bike ride that
seemed to invigorate Bush, he and Merkel had breakfast and then took a
camera-ready walk through the formal gardens next to the cream-colored
castle.
Bush seemed to want to stay as far as possible from the line of media,
steering Merkel down a path that took them away. But minutes later,
Merkel steered them back and the two chatted briefly with reporters
before moving inside.
Bush is close with Merkel, and has hosted her at his Texas ranch — the
less-grand diplomatic equivalent of his invitation here to Schloss
Meseberg. Their relationship hit a bump at a recent NATO summit in
Romania when they split over whether to give Georgia and Ukraine a
path to membership in the alliance, but still is a hugely improved
over U.S.-German ties under Merkel's predecessor, Gerhard Schroeder.

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The Transparent Cabal, Neoconservative Agenda, Israel War

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUMgt... 8AD85&index=0

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http://neoconzionistthreat.blogspot....servative.html

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Hedges: It's Insane to Attack Iran, Devastating Consequences:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIlyj...x=0&playnext=1

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http://neoconzionistthreat.blogspot....tack-iran.html

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President Bush plans to attack Iran in Coming Months:

http://www.itszone.co.uk/zone0/viewtopic.php?t=89840

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http://NOMOREWARFORISRAEL.BLOGSPOT.COM

Sounds like similar rhetoric that was used by Bush in the run-up to
the Iraq war

"Sounds like similar rhetoric that was used by NOMOREWARFOR ISRAEL
yadda yadda yadda!"

Same old ****, just a different day.

On Jun 11, 10:18 am, Moose47 wrote:
Sounds like similar rhetoric that was used by Bush in the run-up to

the Iraq war

"Sounds like similar rhetoric that was used by NOMOREWARFOR ISRAEL
yadda yadda yadda!"

Same old ****, just a different day.

And no doubt he will accuse the next administration of the same thing,
regardless of which crook wins