That headline came over the AP wire 45 minutes ago (AP and Bloomberg snippets below the fold). This is what President Bush is saying immediately after a meeting with Israel Prime Minister Olmert on the Iran nuclear (weapons/energy) issue.
So, Mr. Bush, what about the Iraq Study Group suggestion, about talking and working with regional powers like Iran and Syria for a solution to the Iraq disaster? I think your daddy and Mr. Baker may still have a big job beating some sense into you.
This is the second recent indication, along with the re-nomination of John Bolton for UN Ambassador, how divorced Mr. Bush is from Middle East reality and the new political realities in Washington D.C. Or is the problem Vice-President Cheney?
Bush calls for global 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."
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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.
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 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." ...
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.
http://news.yahoo.com/...
Bush says Iran must forsake arms before any talks (Update1)
Nov. 13 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush said any negotiations with Iran must be preceded by the leaders in Tehran abandoning uranium enrichment efforts.
Bush, after meeting today with Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert today at the White House, said the U.S. won't engage Iran until its leaders submit to international demands aimed at preventing the Islamic republic from building a nuclear weapon.
``If the Iranians want to have a dialogue with us, we've shown them the way forward, and that is for them to verifiably suspend their enrichment activities,'' Bush said in response to questions from reporters. ...
http://www.bloomberg.com/...
No, Mr. Bush, the way forward is to talk with Iran, and Syria, without preconditions.