Bush urges quick deployment of UN force in Lebanon
US President George Bush today called for quick deployment of an international force, with robust rules of engagement, to help uphold the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon.
“The need is urgent,” he said.
“The international community must now designate the leadership of this new international force, give it robust rules of engagement and deploy it as quickly as possible to secure the peace,” the president told a news conference.
Later, Mr Bush said he hoped France would send more peacekeeping troops to Lebanon as part of the international UN force being put together.
During the press conference, he said the cornerstone of his Middle East policy was to help democracies succeed, and that included Lebanon.
He said Israel “should be cautious about how she defends herself”.
Then, talking about Iraq, Mr Bush told reporters US troops would not be leaving Iraq “as long as I’m the President”.
He said his military commanders in Iraq believed their strategy would work, but the mission would take time.
“A failed Iraq would make America less secure and provide a safe haven for terrorists,” he added.
Turning to the subject of Iran, he said the country was part of the Mid East problem “by sponsoring radical Islam”.
“Imagine how much more dangerous Iran would be with a nuclear weapon,” he said. “The UN must ensure there are consequences if Iran “thumbs its nose” at a UN Security Council resolution.”
