President Bush elaborated on his recent warning that an Iranian nuclear attack on Israel would trigger World War III. Bush on Wednesday cited the threatening language from Tehran about Israel.
“The reason I said that is because this is a country that has defied the IAEA [the International Atomic Energy Agency] — in other words, didn’t disclose all their program, have said they want to destroy Israel,” Bush told Germany’s RTL television station. “If you want to see World War III, you know, a way to do that is to attack Israel with a nuclear weapon.
“And so I said, now is the time to move. It wasn’t a prediction nor a desire.”
Bush said he is in no rush to order pre-emptive military action if sanctions fail to curb Iran’s atomic ambitions.
“I’ve committed our troops into harm’s way twice, and it’s not a pleasant experience because I understand the consequences firsthand,” he said. “And so I owe it to the American people to say that I’ve tried to solve this problem diplomatically.”
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
