Guardian : Bush: Iran 'the world's leading supporter of terrorism'

Bush: Iran 'the world's leading supporter of terrorism'

Haroon Siddique | Guardian Unlimited | August 28, 2007

George Bush stepped up the rhetoric over Iran today as he threatened to confront the hardline regime "before it's too late".

The US president - speaking hours after the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadenijad, said his regime was ready to fill the power vacuum in Iraq - accused the Tehran government not only of being behind Shia insurgents in Iraq but also of supporting the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Mr Bush said Iran's nuclear programme would cast the Middle East "under a shadow of nuclear holocaust" and said the regime was the "the world's leading supporter of terrorism".

"I will take all actions necessary to protect our troops," he said. "I have authorised our military commanders in Iraq to confront Tehran's murderous activities."

The US president insisted action against extremists, both Sunni and Shia, in the Middle East was necessary to protect Americans all over the world.

For the second time in a week he alluded to the disastrous Vietnam war, and Mr Bush also referred to US intervention in Europe in the second world war. As he ran through historical conflicts he repeatedly said the US had "got the job done" and would continue to do so.

"We must confront these dangers before it's too late," he said.

"We will fight them over there so we do not have to face them in the United States of America."

Mr Bush asserted the rights of all citizens in the Middle East to democracy, justice and human rights and said the conflict in Iraq would help shape the future of the region, as he rejected suggestions of an early withdrawal.

"The future course of the Middle East will turn heavily on the outcome of the fight in Iraq," he said.

"America will not abandon Iraq in its day of need."

He described the extremist threat as one that "directly threatened the security of our people", as he invoked terrorist atrocities inflicted on the US and its allies.

"We must stay in this fight until the fight is won," said Mr Bush.