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US will support israel if attack on iran { February 18 2005 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2005/02/18/bush_criticizes_syria_and_iran_promises_to_support_israel/http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2005/02/18/bush_criticizes_syria_and_iran_promises_to_support_israel/
Bush criticizes Syria and Iran, promises to support Israel
By Jennifer Loven, Associated Press | February 18, 2005
WASHINGTON -- President Bush criticized Syria and Iran yesterday as destabilizing forces in the Middle East but stopped short of threatening new US action against either. Expressing sympathy with Israeli worries about a nuclear-armed Iran, the president said America would protect its ally.
Bush said Syria was ''out of step" with progress being made in the Mideast. The president cited the 15,000 troops that Syria has in Lebanon and accused Syria of harboring terrorist groups and assisting Iraqi insurgents.
He did not assert involvement by Syria, as many suspect, in the assassination on Monday of a former Lebanese prime minister, Rafik Hariri.
''I'm going to withhold judgment until we find out what the facts are," Bush said at a news conference where he announced the appointment of John D. Negroponte, the US ambassador to Iraq, as director of national intelligence.
Going over one global hot spot after another, the president repeatedly chose the language of negotiation over intimidation.
He did say that ''some of the behavior in the Middle East is unacceptable" -- a reference to Iran's alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons and support by Iran and Syria of terrorist organizations. But Bush emphasized diplomatic solutions. ''There's a lot of progress that can be made," he said.
Bush dodged several questions about potential new penalties against Syria. ''The idea is to continue to work with the world to remind Syria it's not in their interest to be isolated," he said.
His approach contrasted sharply with that recommended by a bipartisan group of 11 senators, who urged Bush to expand on trade penalties and to ''take strong action" against Syria. ''Neither the US nor our allies can afford to let Syria off the hook," the lawmakers said in a letter yesterday.
Bush reaffirmed that Iran is not now in danger of a US attack, despite the administration's belief that Tehran is developing nuclear weapons; Iran denies that charge.
Asked about his level of concern that Israel might attack Iran to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear arms, Bush responded with an assurance to Israel of US protection.
''If I was the leader of Israel and I'd listened to some of the statements by the Iranian ayatollahs that regarded the security of my country, I'd be concerned about Iran having a nuclear weapon as well," he said. ''We will support Israel if her security is threatened."
© Copyright 2005 The New York Times Company
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