Bush "Would Understand" Israeli Strike On Iran

Bush "would understand" Israeli strike on Iran

http://jta.org/page_view_breaking_story.asp?intid=5398

11/2/2006

President Bush reportedly said he would "understand" a preemptive Israeli strike against Iran´s nuclear sites.

Maariv, citing diplomatic sources, reported Thursday that French President Jacques Chirac discussed Iran´s nuclear program with Bush on the sidelines of the recent U.N. summit. Asked by Chirac if Israel could attack Iran to prevent it getting the bomb, Bush reportedly said: "We cannot rule this out. And if it were to happen, I would understand it."

The report could not be independently confirmed.

Israel endorses U.S.-led efforts to curb Iran´s atomic ambitions through the threat of U.N. Security Council sanctions but, like Washington, has hinted that military action could be a last resort.