Bush Urges Unity Against Iran Nukes

On Tour In Europe, President And EU Allies Threaten Tougher Sanctions

(CBS/AP)  President Bush and European allies on Tuesday threatened tougher sanctions to squeeze Iran's finances and derail its potential pursuit of a nuclear weapon. Mr. Bush said the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran would endanger world peace.

"They can either face isolation, or they can have better relations with all of us," Mr. Bush said of Iran's leaders while capping his final European Union-U.S. summit.

The president and EU leaders embraced new financial sanctions against Iran unless it verifiably suspends its nuclear enrichment. They said Iran must fully disclose any nuclear weapons work and allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to verify that work.

Iran is also under fire for defying three sets of U.N. Security Council sanctions and continuing to enrich uranium - which can generate both nuclear fuel and the fissile material for the core of nuclear warheads. Iran insists that it has only civilian uses in mind for its nuclear program.

The president flatly said Iran "can't be trusted with enrichment."

"A group of countries can send a clear message to the Iranians," Mr. Bush said. "And that is: we're going to continue to isolate you, we'll continue to work on sanctions, we'll find new sanctions if need be if you continue to deny the just demands of a free world."

Speaking to reporters on the lush, sun-splashed lawn near Brdo Castle, Mr. Bush also fielded questions on economic woes at home and climate change.

Mr. Bush essentially rejected the idea of possible government intervention to prop up the value of the U.S. dollar. He said he believed in a strong-dollar policy, but that world economies will end up setting the value of the dollar.

On global warming, Mr. Bush declared, "I think we can actually get an agreement on global climate change during my presidency," which ends on Jan. 20, 2009.

He said no global warming agreement can be effective without China and India. The United States has been at odds with allies about whether any climate strategy should include mandatory emission reductions, among other sticking points.

Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa, the president of the European Council, said European members and the United States might have different approaches to some of its common challenges. He said a global agreement without the developing countries would be a short-term solution.

But he added "those who are the most developed have to take the leading role."

The summit, consisting of about three hours of meetings and a working lunch, took place in a modern glass building on the vast Brdo grounds in the shadow of Slovenia's jagged mountain peaks. The president had a long list of issues to cover with his European counterparts, but Iran seemed to dominate.

Six world powers - the United States, Russia, China, Britain, Germany and France - are developing a package of fresh penalties and incentives aimed at reining in Tehran's alleged atomic ambitions. The EU's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, plans to visit Iranian leaders soon in Tehran to appeal to them to accept negotiations over the nuclear standoff.

Mr. Bush and the heads of the EU, a political and economic coalition of 27 countries that works to promote security and commerce across the continent, called on Tehran to stop its support for terrorist organizations destabilizing the Mideast. The statement said the United States and the EU would work to ensure that "Iranian banks cannot abuse the international banking system to support proliferation and terrorism."

It was unclear whether the freshly stated concern over Iranian banks meant that Europeans had signed on for the kind of tough measures the U.S. favors, such as banning business with Iranian banks, or merely represented a repeat of previous calls for closer monitoring of dealings with them.

The Bush administration has warned that Iran is using an array of deceptive practices to hide involvement in nuclear proliferation and terrorist activities.

Iran insists that it has only civilian uses in mind for its nuclear program. Yet it is under fire for defying three sets of U.N. Security Council sanctions and continuing to enrich uranium, which can generate both nuclear fuel and the fissile material for the core of nuclear warheads. Iran has also stonewalled attempts by the IAEA to delve into allegations that several Iranian projects appear to represent different components of a nuclear weapons program.

"A mutually satisfactory, negotiated solution remains open to Iran," the statement said. But the leaders also said that they would fully implement U.N. sanctions against Iran and were "ready to supplement those sanctions with additional measures."

Mr. Bush warned that if Iran ends up with a nuclear weapon, "the free world is going to say why didn't we do something about it at the time? ... Now's the time for there to be strong diplomacy."

Iran's central bank, also known as Bank Markazi, is involved in these deceptive acts, according to the U.S. government. The White House has been looking at new steps to cut off more Iranian banks from the international financial system and has been seeking backing from European allies.

Tensions over Iran are only rising. An Israeli Cabinet minister warned Friday that Israel will attack Iran if it doesn't abandon its nuclear program. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert distanced himself on Sunday from the statements but didn't explicitly reject them.

Verbal threats and political tensions have increased between Iran and Israel after Iran's hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in 2005 that Israel should be "wiped off the map."

"First of all if, if you were living in Israel you'd be a little nervous, too," Bush said. "If a leader in your neighborhood announced that they, he'd like to destroy you. And one sure way of achieving that means it through the development of a nuclear weapon. Therefore, now is the time for all of us to work together to stop them."

Mr. Bush praised Saudi Arabia's call for a summit between oil producing countries and consumer states to discuss soaring energy prices as "an interesting idea."

The leaders also called for the United Nations to send a team to Zimbabwe to monitor the human rights situation ahead of the second round of presidential elections on June 27. And they urged all sides to refrain from further violence over Tibet.

Mr. Bush was to fly to Berlin later Tuesday for a social dinner with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. During his weeklong stay in Europe, he also is going to Italy, France, London and Belfast.

[woodjd42]

When will this jerk just go away and quit damaging this country? Everyone knows that if his mouth is moving, he is lying.

[feelfree4u]

Attention European fuel strikers:

If the mass-murderous dope needs fuel for the return trip, DO NOT GIVE IT TO HIM UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!

Thanks.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "The president is trying to get Britain, Germany and France on board to handle Iran with a carrot-and-stick strategy - a package of new penalties and incentives aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons."

There is absolutely no evidence suggesting that the Iranians are seeking nuclear weapons, so this is a fool''s errand- in which case, we have sent the ideal person to deal with this non-issue.

[feelfree4u]

To our friends in Europe:

Please let our unelected war criminal boy blunder know that he is unwelcome everywhere he goes.

Thanks again.

[jazzjeff31]

Bush won''t be back - break out the champagne bottles. HURRAY - Besides the fact that arrest warrants are already out on him and Cheney for international war crimes in some countries.
No wonder he won''t be back. Good riddance to him. The day he leaves office, America will party again.

I post from Ireland and we will party on the day he goes ...and good riddance!

[feelfree4u]

Re: "I post from Ireland and we will party on the day he goes ...and good riddance!"

Posted by jazzjeff31


Cheers!!!

[jazzjeff31]

Bush and The Lisbon Treaty In Europe - two unwanted useless items not wanted by the people of the European states.

Both need to be sent packing.
Come on Ireland - vote "NO" on Thursday.

[dimmu19]

Bush is coming back home to a surprise...

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Kucinich_presents_Bush_impeachment_articles_0609.html

[feelfree4u]

Re: "Mr. Bush is taking in an exhibition of white Lipizzaner horses, known for their elegant strutting."

That''s great!

Our unelected puppet-Fuhrer simply adores elegant strutting!

[jazzjeff31]

Well done Bush, you have helped create more terrorists than anyone could EVER. By your invading not one but two OIL countries, flattening them with many, many varied bombs and bullets, you have given reason for many family members there to go hate America, its people and their reason for existence.

Your last trip to Europe! I DEEPLY suspect it''s because you know that once your out of office, the line of war criminal charges against you will be further enforced. Europe does NOT want you. The world does NOT want you. 70% plus of America now does NOT want you. Your a piece of garbage soon to be kicked out of office.

[bigsk8fan]

does anyone in the entire world sleep any easier knowing the george w bush is the man representing the usa? what kind of a war is this idiot going to start next?

[jazzjeff31]

jamesm12341: If your sad enough not to be able to see just how many enemies he has created and are even sadder to ask for actual numbers, you need to get away from your keyboard and actually get a life and education.
Bus and Cheney has turned whole countries into big terrorist cells. If you are seriously telling us all that you can''t see that, you truly are blind.

[woodjd42]

Everyone knows that if his mouth is moving, he is lying.

Posted by woodjd42 at 05:38 AM : Jun 10, 2008

Everyone? you took a poll? wow!! i bet you didnt!! i think you are lying


Posted by jamesm12341 at 06:25 AM : Jun 10, 2008

I don''t believe you can name a single thing that has come out of either bush or chaney''s mouth that has turned out to be true or correct. Either they are the most stupid people on earth or just liars.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "Either they are the most stupid people on earth..."

Posted by woodjd42

They''re not.

"jamesm12341" proves it.

[feelfree4u]

Temper tantrums are about all that poor "jamesm12341" has left.

[jazzjeff31]

jamesm12341: Get a life and kop yourself on you blind and sad fool.

With every post you make, your just making yourself look a bigger uneducated fool.
Numbers have been quoted for years now, and those numbers have been growing for years.
I am not going to do your work for you. Its all on the Internet and in the media. Go actually learn something, do your own research and discover the truth you blind fool.

Sad, your just sad.

[skyhawk761]

There is absolutely no evidence suggesting that the Iranians are seeking nuclear weapons, so this is a fool''''s errand- in which case, we have sent the ideal person to deal with this non-issue.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by FeelFree4U at 05:47 AM : Jun 10, 2008

I am by no means a Bush backer but your statement couldn''t be farther from the truth.I would be greatly surprised if Iran doesn''t already have nukes and if they do it is just a matter of time before they use them. Iraq was never a threat to us, Iran on the other hand is a totally different story.

[jazzjeff31]

LOL jamesm12341 - keep going... your continuing to make yourself a bigger fool still.

Well done. LOL.

[woodjd42]

jamesm12341

One thing I may agree with is the problem is not so much the lies bush and chaney tell, but the problem is the people that believe them and stand up and support these cowards no matter what the evidence shows.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "I am by no means a Bush backer but your statement couldn''t be farther from the truth.I would be greatly surprised if Iran doesn''t already have nukes and if they do it is just a matter of time before they use them. Iraq was never a threat to us, Iran on the other hand is a totally different story."

Posted by skyhawk761

Can you present anything other than your imagination in support of your claims here?

[feelfree4u]

Re: "which sounds more like a temper tantrum?"

Posted by jamesm12341

Obviously your temper tantrums do.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "wow!! I get bashed for wanting people to do that. Jazzjeff keeps avoiding it.. I have simply asked for numbers to back up his post and he refuses....that makes him a liar."

Posted by jamesm12341

You are asking proof of such self-evident and easily verifiable things comparable to "show me evidence that the earth is round".

No one has the time or interest to spoon-feed imbeciles here, "jamesm12341".

Looks like you will go hungry.

[jazzjeff31]

jamesm12341 - I don''t need to quote numbers. They are out there already quoted many, many times by many reporters and representatives.
Its sad that you have to boil your arguments about Bush down to actual numbers (by the way, it not just numbers of people, its numbers of countries now!). That just shows a lack of understanding as to the vast scope of the effects Bush and Cheney has had on the world.
If your sad enough to just need "numbers" to further your daft notions, you really need a wider education in social, political and economic issues beyond the blinkered view you have of war criminals in the White House.

[sleepyric]

hey GW...why don''t you stop at downtown Baghdad on the way back....take a stroll through the market; have a tea...I hear it''s very safe nowadays. John McCain told me! :O)

[formrusmcsgt]

I am by no means a Bush backer but your statement couldn''''''''t be farther from the truth.I would be greatly surprised if Iran doesn''''''''t already have nukes and if they do it is just a matter of time before they use them. Iraq was never a threat to us, Iran on the other hand is a totally different story.

Posted by skyhawk761 at 07:08 AM : Jun 10, 2008

You might want to inform the CIA about this.

It contends Iran has no nukes....probably based on silly data like IAEA inspections of facilities, documents, and intelligence from a variety of sources.

[feelfree4u]

Looks like you gobbled up a few slices too many of "yellow-cake", "jamesm12341".

I have to give you credit. It is amazing that there is a regime dead-ender still so doggedly ignorant at this late date.

You are a true believer.

[barbaraf4]

Within the US, our economy has tanked, no one can afford to drive their car (never mind cool their house this summer), our mid-west is a disaster area and Bush leaves for Europe to participate in his final photo-op. Mission Accomplished.

[formrusmcsgt]

Nothing of substance will come of this jaunt.

dubya has no respect in Europe and the Europeans know that they can wait a year and deal with a pragmatic statesman on issues rather than as lame a duck as has ever come down the pike.

[feelfree4u]

formrusmcsgt,

Re: "Nothing of substance will come of this jaunt."

Not true.

From the article:

"Mr. Bush is taking in an exhibition of white Lipizzaner horses, known for their elegant strutting."

[formrusmcsgt]

At this juncture, dubya isn''t a lame duck, he''s a quadrapalegic duck....

[formrusmcsgt]

The point is not if you can afford this messed up GOPer induced economic diaster, but that a lot of Americans can''''t!

Posted by ozilot at 07:40 AM : Jun 10, 2008

While not a believer in neoconism by any stretch of the imagination nor a defender of dubya, I''ll observe that many are in economic straights of their own design.

Spending every dime on luxuries, new cars, and frivolities rather than banking may be a way to impress others of your material substance, but it doen''t hold things together when conditions become difficult.

[antoniof123]

ozilot you are so correct things are really messed up because of the Republicans.

However, I hope that the Democrats don''t make the same mistake as the Repulbicans did and history has shown they do a better job at being in charge.

The Republicans rule as though they are not accountable and that they are the only ones who are right. The Democrats use Democratic rule, of course noe cons can''t stand to be wrong so they try to take as many down with them as possible.

That said the only way to govern is to do so by looking at the best things in both parties it has been proven that the only things the Republicans can do is try to stay in power. By default they will lose power within a few short year.

I hope you Democrats are listening we need moderation not wing nut policy.

[georgew1956]

if we didn''t have republicans we wouldn''t have yuppy''s bush is the prime example.

[shanev137]

Has he learned how to pronounce the word nuclear yet?

[feelfree4u]

Dear Europe,

George is not needed in the U.S. for any reason. We can find someone else to feed Barney.

There is no reason to delay his war crimes tribunal.

[hhroams]

BUSH IS TRYING TO LINE PLACES THAT MIGHT LET HIM IMMIGRATE ON 1/20/09

[dinkydog1]

Temper tantrums are about all that poor "jamesm12341" has left.


Posted by FeelFree4U at 07:03 AM :

.....................

Yeh, just ignor him, too many hits on the bong and not much going on in the trailer park today.

[floydzeppl]

Busy Schedule For Bush On Last Europe Trip
-------

Yeah, he doesn''t have much more time to waste tax payer dollars on a boondoggle.

[floydzeppl]

cay accept that your dead end dream of having the United States of Jesusland is over? yes or no?

Posted by jamesm12341 at 08:31 AM : Jun 10, 2008

[acolton1]

I am SO GLAD that this is Bushies last trip to Europe we have had George W. Douschbag representing this country for the last 8 years and its time for him to go back to his GROUP HOME ON CRAWFORD TEXAS where all the BUSHIE TARDS BELONG. Thank the Lord that he is almost out of office and we are rid of this Looser as a President its been nothing but bad news since his Second TERM and time to get rid of the Bushies and all their KIDS. I hope I never see him at the White House Again on TV.

[floydzeppl]

I thought all the BushTards were gonna move to South Carolina and start their own country?

[leftyintexas]

I thought all the BushTards were gonna move to South Carolina and start their own country?

Posted by FloydZeppl at 08:37 AM : Jun 10, 2008

NO! NO! NO! That''s far too close! How about Jupiter or Saturn?

[floydzeppl]

I thought all the BushTards were gonna move to South Carolina and start their own country?

Posted by FloydZeppl at 08:37 AM : Jun 10, 2008

NO! NO! NO! That''s far too close! How about Jupiter or Saturn?

Posted by leftyintexas at 08:45 AM : Jun 10, 2008
----------

Or Hell.

[leftyintexas]

no one? i can afford to drive my car and cool my house. I know of others that can to. Where did you get that no one can afford to drive car or cool their houses?

Posted by jamesm12341 at 07:35 AM : Jun 10, 2008

I see you slivered up to post some more of your krappy observations on life. Tell me , toe tapper, what are you gonna do when Obama becomes your President for the next eight years? Go hid under your rock? You and your fellow toe tappers are going to get a good dose of reality. That''s something you''ve been living without for these past eight years. Only 224 days left! Enjoy!

[inventagod2]

Mr Bu$h gets to return to impeachment proceedings -
Enjoy your last trip as president, Shrub...

[leftyintexas]

Or Hell.

Posted by FloydZeppl at 08:49 AM : Jun 10, 2008

GOOD ONE!!!!

[gopsoccermom]

Well I am sure the Europeons appreciate our president more than out traitor liberal citizens. How sad.

[floydzeppl]

are you saying I won''''t be able to afford to drive if Obama becomes president? Is that the "reality" you are talking about?

Posted by jamesm12341 at 09:01 AM : Jun 10, 2008
-------------

are you saying dumb stuff because you''ve run out of even the most outrageous lies to post?

[leftyintexas]

Hahahahahaha! That''s a good one! I see you don''t travel much or have any European friends. You should really get out more often.

[leftyintexas]

are you saying I won''''t be able to afford to drive if Obama becomes president? Is that the "reality" you are talking about?

Posted by jamesm12341 at 09:01 AM : Jun 10, 2008

Forget it James. You''re too dense to get through to. Sorry I woke you.