United State President George W Bush, in his speech to the nation, has warned Iran and Syria, charging them with taking “deliberate action” against the US forces in Iraq and enabling transfer of aid to Iraqi rebels. Bush said the US will take action against “Iranian proxies” in Iraq and vowed to find and destroy the networks supplying these groups with weapons and training. The President also said the US would work “with others” to block Iran from developing nuclear arms and dominating the region.
The Bush Administration had recently leaked details of clandestine Iranian operations in Iraq, as well as what the President described as direct assistance for insurgents who are targeting American soldiers.
He stressed that success in Iraq would come only “after Iran and Syria are addressed.” However, at a briefing at the Pentagon on Thursday, General Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, had said there were no plans for military operations inside Iran. General Pace told reporters that “we can take care of the security for our troops by doing the business we need to do inside of Iraq.”
Both Syria and Iran were quick to condemn Bush’s warning. An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said “the US decision to send more troops to Iraq is a continuation of the occupation and would only contribute to the insecurity, danger and anxiety in Iraq, and will not help solve the problems.”
Syria’s Vice-President Farouk al-Shara remarked that President Bush’s decision to reinforce the US forces in Iraq would only “add fuel to the fire.”
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said those calling for dialogue with Syria and Iran fail to realise that these countries are seeking to undermine stability and that talks with them are unlikely to yield results.
Condoleezza Rice, who scheduled to visit the Middle East this weekend, explained that it is the Bush Administration’s policy to cooperate with moderate states interested in stabilising Iraq as well as the Middle East. She was referring to President Bush’s statement that the US would “work with others” to block Iran from developing nuclear arms and dominating the region.
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates told the House Armed Services Committee that the US troops were trying to crack down on the spread of Iranian-supplied explosives into Iraq. Thereby, he explained, the Administration is “making it clear that those who are involved in activities that cost the lives of American soldiers are going to be subject to actions on the part of the United States inside Iraq.” Labels: International Politics, iraq |
