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Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Bush says US would defend Israel if Iran attacks
2008-01-07
JERUSALEM - US President George W. Bush said Washington would defend its close ally Israel in the event of an Iranian attack, in remarks broadcast on Israeli army radio on Sunday. “Whether there’s an imminent attack coming, I don’t think so,” Bush said in excerpts of an interview with an Israeli television station to be aired in its entirety later in the day.

“If Iran did strike Israel... We will defend our ally, no ands, ifs or buts,” he said.

Israel considers the Islamic republic its main regional threat in the wake of President Mahmoud AhmadinejadÂ’s repeated statements for it to be wiped off the map. Israel along with the US suspects that TeheranÂ’s nuclear programme is a cover for developing atomic weapons, a charge Iran has denied.

“If I were an Israeli, I would take the words of the Iranian president seriously, and as president of the United States I take them seriously,” Bush said.
Posted by:Steve White

#10  ION, DEFENSE NEWS > TAIWAN FEARS CHINA IS CHIPPING AWAY AT US SUPPORT; + WAFF.com [Jan 4 08] > CHINA'S ABILITY TO SUSTAIN WARFARE.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2008-01-07 23:27  

#9  Actions speak louder than words.

All in all - its not weather Bush will actually defend Israel - if weather the Mullah's believe that Bush would defend Israel.

And with the things Condi has been saying lately - and the recent actions at that conference in Anapolous (sp?) and what happened during the recent Lebanon war, I am beginning to have my doubts. Why should they?

If a ship carrying a nuke goes off in an Israeli port and it is traced back to Iran - and the U.N. and the Donks are braying to 'understand' them and calls for full investigations ( since Iran will claim it was stolen or was a Western plan / plot) which would take years the way the UN drags them on - would he defend Israel or pressure Israel to wait for the investigation - and then for the acquittal of Iran or negotiations which will take even more years. The Mullahs may think that they have a pretty good chance of getting away with it.

And if a Democrat is in the white house the Mullahs would have nothing to fear.

Posted by: CrazyFool   2008-01-07 22:25  

#8  The Donks will have a reasonable military to work with because the Trunks will do their best to leave them one. Now if we could just get the Donks to return the favor. But it works in their best interests not to because people will blame Republicans for being forced to spend more.
Posted by: gorb   2008-01-07 17:07  

#7  Bush is telling the Iranians that they die if thy nuke Israel so there is no point in betting that they can take out all of Israel's capability with a first strike or whatever.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2008-01-07 15:17  

#6  Israel along with the US suspects that TeheranÂ’s nuclear programme is a cover for developing atomic weapons, a charge Iran has denied.

Does that mean Bush is prepared for a nuclear exchange with Iran? Are we already in a MAD situation with Iran? What other kind of attack could Iran possibly mount?

But then, according to the NIE, Iran doesn't have any nukes. Does Bush think Iran is gonna march their troops into Israel? Or fire a few missiles with conventional warheads? Does he really think that?

I'm confused because it seems to me Iran already did attack Israel when they sent Hezbollah after them. What did we do to help then? Arrange a cease fire with UN supervision while leaving Hezbollah in place so they could declare victory? We should have sent the heavy bombers to crush the Hezzies.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305   2008-01-07 12:11  

#5  Of course Moose, you need a military do 'defend' with, something the Donks are not going to allow to stay around except for the usual Euro palace guards for fancy ceremonies.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2008-01-07 09:04  

#4  Of course, if a Democrat is President, the US would not defend Israel. Or Taiwan, Germany, Canada, or quite possibly large sections of the United States.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2008-01-07 08:29  

#3  Yeah, you can count on us.
And the UN.
Posted by: bigjim-ky   2008-01-07 07:56  

#2  Except for g(r)om, of course! ;-)
Posted by: W   2008-01-07 06:06  

#1  Now I'm relaxed.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2008-01-07 05:24  

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