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Bush blocked Israel's plans for air strike against Iran
Ed Harris, Evening Standard26.09.08
Israel planned a bombing raid on Iran's nuclear sites but backed down when it was told by George Bush he would not support it, it is reported today.
Mr Bush added he did not expect to revise that view for the rest of his presidency, senior European diplomatic sources said.
Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert, who has since announced his resignation, raised the issue when the US President visited Israel for the 60th anniversary of the state's founding. The pair held a secret onetoone meeting on 14 May, the sources said.
"He took [the refusal] as where they were at the moment, and that the US position was unlikely to change as long as Bush was in office," one source told The Guardian.
Israel, thought to have the Middle East's only atomic arsenal, believes Iran could have a nuclear bomb by 2010 which would threaten the existence of the Jewish state.
Iran, the world's fourth-largest oil exporter, denies seeking nuclear arms and says it is enriching uranium only for use in generating power.
The Guardian said a European head of government met Mr Olmert after Mr Bush's visit. Mr Bush's decision appeared to be based on two factors.
One was concern over Iranian retaliation, including attacks on US personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan, and on shipping in the Gulf.
The other was anxiety Israel would not succeed in disabling Iran's nuclear facilities in a single assault without risking full-scale war.
Washington says it wants a diplomatic solution to the long-running stand-off with Iran over its nuclear programme but has not ruled out military action as a last resort.
Reader views (5)
"Ahmadinejad wouldn't be mad enough to use it?"
I'll have whatever he's drinking, please. Sounds like its good stuff - 90% proof at least!
- Rogan, DFW TX
At last, Bush makes a good decision. An Israeli strike on Iran would be a bad idea. It would do very little real damage (the Iranians learned from the Osirak raid and have dispersed their facilities nationwide and deeply underground) and merely inflame the regional situation and increase Muslims' determination.
The West have to appreciate that they can't forever maintain a monopoly on technology. If they can have (and enhance) nuclear power, why can't others? Countries like Iran have a genuine need for additional and alternative sources of power, given their increasing populations. And even if they were (hypothetically) building a bomb, then I personally don't feel that that would be a bad thing as they need it to counter US and Israeli aggression (look at Iraq)! Rest assured, they would never be mad enough to use it.
- Wahab, Tokyo
Simon.... I'm guessing you mean Bush, right? And no, noone in their right mind wants that but look at how he cheated his way in and kept himself there.
- Mike, london, uk
Why is Israel allowed to have nuclear weapons,with their record of massacres ..Ramallah,Shatilla among many others? Iran could claim they want parity
- G Graeme, london
Something has to be done and soon!
Ahmadinejad, on being elected, announced..
“Thanks to the blood of the martyrs, a new Islamic revolution has arisen and the Islamic revolution of 1384 (the Iranian yesr) will, if allah wills, cut off the roots of injustice in the world,”... “The wave of the Islamic revolution will soon reach the entire world.”.
Is this really a man we want with his finger on the button?
- Simon, London, UK
