December 04, 2007
Bush: NIE Doesn't Change Iran Policy
President Bush denied that he was aware of new intelligence that Iran had abandoned its nuclear weapons program before this week, but said the news would not change White House policy toward the "axis of evil" nation.
"Iran was dangerous, Iran is dangerous and Iran will be dangerous if they have the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon," Bush said in a White House press conference. "The NIE said Iran had a hidden, covert nuclear weapons program. What's to say they couldn't start another covert nuclear weapons program?"
Bush said that earlier this fall, when the White House was ratcheting up pressure on Tehran, he was unaware of indications that Iran had stopped its weapons program in 2003, even though the intelligence community had been working on the new report [PDF] for months. According to U.S. intelligence agencies' latest consolidated findings, Iran stopped pursuing nukes in 2003 in part because of pressure applied by the U.S. and its allies as well as the Iraq war. The report notes that Iran has never disclosed its nuclear capability, and that it would be difficult to know if they decided again to weaponize the fissile material they already possess.
"We know that they're still trying to learn how to enrich uranium," Bush said. "I view this report as a warning signal."
"This is an opportunity to rally the international community," the president continued. "The best diplomacy is one in which all options are on the table."
Bush said he and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice were "working the phones" in an effort to revive sanctions talks in the U.N. Security Council. In a veiled criticism of America's P-5 partners, most of whom have business interests in Iran, Bush said that "it's in our collective interests to pressure the Iranian regime economically." In October, the administration announced tough new unilateral sanctions against Iran after France and Germany, Washington's closest allies on this issue, declined to pull the trigger on a new U.N. resolution.
Though some Middle East observers were skeptical about the NIE -- whether from mistrust of U.S. intelligence, mistrust of Tehran or some combination of both -- Bush's pronouncement that his administration would not recalibrate its stance toward Iran is hardly surprising. As we noted yesterday, the White House's policy that "all options are on the table" until Iran stops enrichment activities will be the case so long as 1) Tehran remains secretive about its current capability, and 2) Washington considers Iran unfit for membership in the nuclear club.
"Our policy remains the same," Bush asked after pointed interrogation from the press corps. "It's not an 'everybody relax and quit' report."
Bush denied that he had lost credibility on this and other issues, and he insisted he was not "dispirited," as one reporter put it. France came out in support of new sanctions talks following the NIE, while China indicated that it would be more reluctant to support new strictures on Iran because of the report. Bush said that in a telephone call earlier today, he discussed Russia's offer to supply enriched uranium to Iran for its energy program. On the matter of Russia's recent contested election, Bush said only, "We were sincere in our expression of concern about the elections."
Just as he did yesterday, Bush used his opening remarks to try shaming the Democratic Congress into passing a number of bills, including a free trade agreement with Colombia and new war funding, before the holiday recess. Warning lawmakers against trying to slip through "one monstrous piece of legislation which they will load up with billions of dollars in earmarks and wasteful spending," Bush vowed to veto bloated legislation, adding, "Americans can be forgiven for thinking that Santa will have slipped down their chimneys on Christmas Eve before Congress finishes its work. Let's hope they are wrong."
The president also refused to play "pundit in chief" on the topic of the 2008 elections but admitted, "It's hard to believe we're a month away from the Iowa caucuses, and it's going to get intense." In a mostly somber press conference, Bush's impish side finally peeked through. "I like campaigning. If somebody says they don't like campaigning, they're not telling you [the truth] or they're a lousy candidate. I mean, it's fun."
Bush bristled at one reporter's attempts to psychologize his state of mind as he nears the end of his presidency, and he denied that he was getting worn down. "I'm not feeling dispirited," he said. "I'm feeling pretty good about life."
Posted at 11:46 AM
Posted to:
Bush Administration, Campaigns, Iran, Iraq, Middle East, President Bush, WH 2008
Share via
