Bush: Diplomacy Is Best Option With Iran

[cal04]

Calling war divisive for the country, President Bush said he will continue pursuing diplomatic rather than military options to try to get Iran to halt its nuclear program.

Earlier this month, Iran confirmed it had resumed building nuclear centrifuges, which can be used to enrich uranium to weapons grade, and declared it should have the right to advanced nuclear technology.

While he's ``deeply concerned'' by Iran's actions, Bush said diplomatic efforts are just beginning there and he's hopeful they will be successful. He noted military action to topple Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq came only after more than a decade of failed diplomacy.

``The military option is always the last option for a president, not the first,'' he said in an interview broadcast Tuesday on NBC's ``Today'' show.Bush comments came as he continued a campaign swing that will take him to New York, where he'll speak Thursday night to the Republican National Convention.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-CVN-Bush.html

[liveoaktx]

1. So, for the country that HAS nuclear weapons you do diplomacy but

for the country that has OIL and borders ISRAEL, ya bomb 'em.

Bush puts his arm around one of the *Axis of Evil* and pals it up!

[havocmom]

12. Makes ya think some of his supporters sell equipment/materials needed

for the development of nuclear weapons.

Yessir, step right up and buy yourself some nu-cler protection from the big eagle! No country with our magic elixir gets shocked or awed! Saddam didn't buy and lookie what happened to him. You don't want that to happen to you, do you? Just sign the check and our friends will fill it out and send you your very own 'Anti-Eagle Survival Net', made with the help of outsourced labor by companies based off the US shore so none of your money will be paid in taxes to the Eagle.

</sarcasm>
Jeeze, what a protection racket these guys are running. Out Plame who was keeping track of what got sold to where and then make sure nations without nuclear programs see the wisdom of starting them up.

Yeah, we're safer now than we were 4 years ago... NOT.

[jeff30997]

2. Diplomacy was the best option with Iraq too...

What an hypocrite !

[cal04]

6. the difference from Iraq, more of his lies

President says circumstances not the same as Iraq
Asked if he would act preemptively against Iran just as he did against Iraq, the president said the Iraq war came only after "we had tried diplomacy" with Saddam Hussein for over a decade.

"In Iraq we're just starting a diplomatic effort," he said, adding that the diplomacy works in conjunction with trade sanctions on Iran. "We can't sanction them anymore," he said.

The president also said he would have still waged war on Saddam had he known he didn't have weapons of mass destruction stockpiled in Iraq.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5874792/

[hang a left]

8. We knew that back in January 03

'The president also said he would have still waged war on Saddam had he known he didn't have weapons of mass destruction stockpiled in Iraq.'

[Jack Rabbit]

3. It's time to worry

The military option is always the last option for a president, not the first.

That's a real hoot coming from him.

The only diplomat Bush trusts to deliver his message is a Cruise missile.

The only message he wants to deliver is: Fork over your national wealth. We need it to fill our SUVs.

[mikehiggins]

4. Thank God!

I can rest easy knowing that Jesus' Chosen President wishes to use diplomacy to influence Iran instead of sending in our Christian Crusaders.

Absolutely NO reason to think he's lying through his teeth.

Loved the bit last night on the Daily Show special showing Sauron denying making claims about Iraq/al Queda ties. Then they showed a video of another interview in which he said, well, there were definite Iraq/al Queda ties. He must have been stopped on the road to Jerusalem by God's finger and shown the truth.

Hey, better late than never. Unless, of course, you're among the thousands of dead and wounded.

[bemildred]

5. What an appeaser. This will only embolden the Iranians.

</sarcasm>

[JETS]

7. Yeah, diplomacy is the best option with countries who can

defend themselves!

[Jacobin]

9. "War is last resort...Don't want to go to war...blah blah blah

and then:

KABOOM

"we couldn't wait any longer. They didn't prove that they would never ever even think about having a bomb ever again, so we had to invade. Fork the U.N....can't wait for mushroom cloud, 45 minutes, etc etc etc"

Who does he think he's fooling? (oh, wait, I know, American voters)

PNAC is their agenda and it is only hiding, it has NOT changed. Neocons run Bush*s tiny little brain. Anyone who thinks that's not true is delusional.

[tlcandie]

10. Ya .. him saying diplomacy means .. we aren't attacking until

we've thoroughly figured out the BEST strategy...which is usually a shock and awe hit with a circus ending.

Diplomacy means a charade to this regime until such time that was is a convenience or enjoyable pleasure.

Think cat and mouse.

[luaneryder]

11. Two faced, lying, hypocrite

No, Georgie, Iran won't be the pushover Iraq was. Diplomacy, yeah, right. If his lips are moving he's lying.

[SOS]

13. The Republikud won't be happy with this statement....

On the other hand, Bush also said:
"I have no war plans on my desk." in 2002.

[young_at_heart]

14. Did he have a "straight face" when he said this?

Surely the interviewer must have burst out laughing or at least looked astonished at such a huge "flip-flop"!