Bush Calls For Isolation Of Iran
President Bush, responding to concerns Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert brought to the White House, called on Monday for worldwide isolation of Iran until it "gives up its nuclear ambitions."
The risk to the world extends beyond Israel and the Middle East, Mr. Bush said in White House remarks to reporters after meeting with Olmert for an hour. The United States and Israel say they believe Iran is working on nuclear weapons, though Iran says its work on the technology is aimed only at producing energy.
"Iran's nuclear ambitions are not in the world's interest," Mr. Bush said. "If Iran had nuclear weapons, it would be terribly destabilizing."
His prescription for dealing with Iran was diplomatic — having the United Nations impose sanctions to force Iran to stop uranium enrichment. Diplomats at the U.N. have been bogged down for weeks trying to agree to a resolution that would place some sanctions on Iran for refusing to halt is enrichment.
"If they continue to move forward with the program, there has to be a consequence," Mr. Bush said. "And a good place to start is working together to isolate the country. And my hope is, is that there are rational people inside the government that recognize isolation is not in their country's interest."
Mr. Bush said if the Iranians want to have a dialogue, "We have shown them a way forward," referring to the U.S.-European demand that Iran halt enrichment.
Olmert said his government in principle was willing to negotiate with Syria. But Syria's sponsorship of Hamas, the militant group that has attacked Israel and dominates the Palestinian government, and its activities in Lebanon prevent talking to Damascus right now, Olmert said.
Mr. Bush, also not ruling out U.S. talks with Syria, said Syria has to "get out of Lebanon."
In focusing on his concerns with Iran, Olmert offered assurances he was not looking for a confrontation with Iran.
"I am not looking for wars," he declared in advance of his meeting with Mr. Bush.
"This is not an issue of Israel only," Olmert said of Iran's nuclear efforts. "This is a moral issue of the whole world."
The meeting was the second the prime minister had with President Bush since Olmert took over for the ailing Ariel Sharon. Palestinian gestures toward peacemaking with Israel was also a key topic on their agenda.
Tehran's goal is to "ultimately wipe Israel off the map," Olmert said on NBC's "Today" show. "The whole world has to join forces in order to stop it. This is a problem of every country. I know that President Bush is fully aware of that."
Iranian officials say their goal is to create nuclear energy.
Olmert also arrived with expectations that he could make small-scale moves on the Palestinian front, including the possibility of offering humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people.
On Sunday, the Palestinian foreign minister, Mahmoud Zahar, of the ruling Hamas group, accepted an Arab proposal for a peace conference with Israel, diplomats said. The endorsement marks the first time Hamas, which refuses to renounce violence against the Jewish state, has indicated it would consider making amends with Israel.
The White House reacted positively to what it called "some activity on the Hamas side."
"Both sides are working on it, and we are encouraged," spokesman Tony Snow said.
He told reporters that when it comes to peacemaking, however, "nobody ever said it was simple, without bumps."
Olmert had dinner Sunday with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli government or the U.S. State Department on the meeting.
Israel is worried by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's repeated calls to destroy Israel and — like the United States — does not believe Tehran's claims that its nuclear program is intended solely to produce energy.
© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The risk to the world extends beyond Israel and the Middle East, Mr. Bush said in White House remarks to reporters after meeting with Olmert for an hour. The United States and Israel say they believe Iran is working on nuclear weapons, though Iran says its work on the technology is aimed only at producing energy.
"Iran's nuclear ambitions are not in the world's interest," Mr. Bush said. "If Iran had nuclear weapons, it would be terribly destabilizing."
His prescription for dealing with Iran was diplomatic — having the United Nations impose sanctions to force Iran to stop uranium enrichment. Diplomats at the U.N. have been bogged down for weeks trying to agree to a resolution that would place some sanctions on Iran for refusing to halt is enrichment.
"If they continue to move forward with the program, there has to be a consequence," Mr. Bush said. "And a good place to start is working together to isolate the country. And my hope is, is that there are rational people inside the government that recognize isolation is not in their country's interest."
Mr. Bush said if the Iranians want to have a dialogue, "We have shown them a way forward," referring to the U.S.-European demand that Iran halt enrichment.
Olmert said his government in principle was willing to negotiate with Syria. But Syria's sponsorship of Hamas, the militant group that has attacked Israel and dominates the Palestinian government, and its activities in Lebanon prevent talking to Damascus right now, Olmert said.
Mr. Bush, also not ruling out U.S. talks with Syria, said Syria has to "get out of Lebanon."
In focusing on his concerns with Iran, Olmert offered assurances he was not looking for a confrontation with Iran.
"I am not looking for wars," he declared in advance of his meeting with Mr. Bush.
"This is not an issue of Israel only," Olmert said of Iran's nuclear efforts. "This is a moral issue of the whole world."
The meeting was the second the prime minister had with President Bush since Olmert took over for the ailing Ariel Sharon. Palestinian gestures toward peacemaking with Israel was also a key topic on their agenda.
Tehran's goal is to "ultimately wipe Israel off the map," Olmert said on NBC's "Today" show. "The whole world has to join forces in order to stop it. This is a problem of every country. I know that President Bush is fully aware of that."
Iranian officials say their goal is to create nuclear energy.
Olmert also arrived with expectations that he could make small-scale moves on the Palestinian front, including the possibility of offering humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people.
On Sunday, the Palestinian foreign minister, Mahmoud Zahar, of the ruling Hamas group, accepted an Arab proposal for a peace conference with Israel, diplomats said. The endorsement marks the first time Hamas, which refuses to renounce violence against the Jewish state, has indicated it would consider making amends with Israel.
The White House reacted positively to what it called "some activity on the Hamas side."
"Both sides are working on it, and we are encouraged," spokesman Tony Snow said.
He told reporters that when it comes to peacemaking, however, "nobody ever said it was simple, without bumps."
Olmert had dinner Sunday with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli government or the U.S. State Department on the meeting.
Israel is worried by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's repeated calls to destroy Israel and — like the United States — does not believe Tehran's claims that its nuclear program is intended solely to produce energy.
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Ehud Olmer
I hope the world is listening.
He isn't going to listen to Baker or anyone. He is going to continue to flounder around like a fish out of water for the next 2 years and continue to make a fool of himself. If he has any hope of having a positive legacy, he had better clean out the ears and start listening.
This should be an interesting two years.
May be when we stop supporting witless aiding and abetting what is clearly a terrorist state that wars on civilians with impunity, then the world might listen.
Certainly they are in need of some good 'ol Bush democracy. Yet, no mention of it nor attempts to straighten out the trade deficit or exchange rate of their currency. Feeble attempts have been made but failed.
Those two should have a more concilaitory approach and get to solve their difference with Iran. DIPLOMACY still exists. Why are those diplomats not working?
Americans have evolved in a less radical way of doing things, because radical ways just don't work. Why are the G.Walking-LiarBush and his administration not following the way Americans want things to be dealt with?
I do wish we would have picked our past battles more carefully so that we could have the resources to take care of the greater threats out there today.