Bush Supports Israel Self-Defense
Charles Johnson
Mon Oct 6, 2003 at 4:31 pm PDT • Views: 143
Even though he qualified it with some boilerplate about “avoiding escalation,” President Bush made a pretty darned unequivocal statement today that Israel has the right to defend herself, and that Syria is harboring terrorists. We can argue about whether the “escalation” bit should have been said (and I’m sure we will), but these words are strongly in favor of Israel and against Syria.
“I made it very clear to the prime minister, like I have consistently done, that Israel’s got a right to defend herself, that Israel must not feel constrained in terms of defending the homeland,” Bush said in Washington.
“However, I said that it’s very important that any action Israel take(s) should avoid escalation and creating higher tensions,” he said.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the United States had urged Israel and Syria to avoid “actions that heighten tensions or that could lead to hostilities.”
“But we have repeatedly told Syria that they need to stop harboring terrorists,” he said.
Frank says: