Bush seeks Arab support
The US president arrives in Kuwait on the second leg of his Middle East tour.
‘Problem of extremism’
Condoleezza Rice, US secretary of state, said talks would turn to “the threats that we’ve seen in the Gulf, the problem of extremism, whether it be extremism from al-Qaeda, Sunni extremism, or whether it be Iran and its tentacles, like Hezbollah and the part of Hamas that Iran supports”.
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In light of the standoff over Iran’s nuclear programme, Kuwaiti media reported that the emir and other officials would tell Bush of their concerns that a US strike on the nearby nation would destabilise the region.
Bush is likely to hear similar messages from other Gulf Arab leaders who want to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions peacefully.
Kuwait has previously said that it will not allow the United States to use its territory for any strike against Iran.
Recent confrontations between US and Iranian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz have also raised political temperatures in the Gulf.
“The president will make very clear that the United States takes very seriously its commitments to our allies in this region,” Rice said aboard Air Force One on the way to Kuwait.
On Saturday, Bush will meet his most senior officials in Iraq, General David Petraeus and ambassador Ryan Crocker, at Camp Irfjan in Kuwait, where thousands of American troops are based.
Around 15,000 US troops are stationed in Kuwait and Bush’s visit came after he conceded that US forces “could easily” be in Iraq for another 10 years
‘Difficult choices’
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“What has to happen in order for there to be a peaceful settlement of a long-standing dispute is … outlines of a state clearly defined.” |
In what is being called a hardening of his tone, Bush on Thursday urged an end to the occupation of the West Bank and pushed for a peace treaty to be signed within a year to create a Palestinian state.
Holocaust memorial visit
Before departing Israel, Bush paid homage to Holocaust victims at Jerusalem’s Yad Vashem holocaust memorial, accompanied by Shimon Peres, the Israeli president, and Ehud Olmert, the prime minister.
He later visited the Church of the Beatitudes on the shore of the Sea of Galilee north of the West Bank.
Bush also visited the ruins of the ancient village of Capernaum where Christians believe that Jesus performed miracles.
The US president said he hoped to return to Israel for its 60th anniversary celebrations in May.