Bush Says Iran Must Do More Before Relations Can Improve

[Rose Siding]

ORT WORTH, Jan. 1 — President Bush said Thursday that while he welcomed signs of warmer dealings with Iran in recent weeks, the country must still rid itself of terrorists and nuclear weapons programs and open its political system before he will be ready to improve relations with Tehran.

Mr. Bush's comments to reporters, at the end of a holiday trip to the southern Texas town of Falfurrias, where he shot five quail while hunting with his father, were the first about Iran since the earthquake that Tehran says killed about 40,000 people. American relief workers were among the first to reach the stricken city of Bam, and the welcome they received from both victims and the government has raised the possibility of an end to a freeze that has lasted since the Iranian hostage crisis nearly a quarter century ago.

"What we're doing in Iran is we're showing the Iranian people the American people care, that we've got great compassion for human suffering," Mr. Bush said at a small airstrip near the private land where he hunted. He noted that on Wednesday he ordered a temporary easing of restrictions on trade with Iran to speed the flow of relief aid.

But that easing will last only 90 days, and Mr. Bush was careful on Thursday to restate the conditions Iran must meet before sanctions are permanently lifted. "The Iranian government must listen to the voices of those who long for freedom, must turn over Al Qaeda that are in their custody and must abandon their nuclear weapons program," he said. "In the meantime, we appreciate the fact the Iranian government is willing to allow our humanitarian aid flights into their country. And it's a good thing to do. It's right to take care of people when they hurt, and we're doing that."

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/02/international/middleeast/02PREX.html


*interesting to note that his hostess for the hunt is a founder of Brown & Root, KBR's precursor. After all, the cabal that plays together, stays...ahh, whatever.

[J B]

1. Did I just read this right...........?

It is good that Iran ALLOWED the humanitarian flights into the country......!?

Wake me up when the administration ends. I've had it. Bunch of crazies.

[izzie]

2. noblesse oblige is alive and well with Bush and co.

n/t

[drb]

3. I think Iraq should do like Brazil, and demand that the U.S....

...discontinue their nuke-you-lur weapons program and hand over any CIA agents who have spied against Iraq.

[HawkerHurricane]

4. Things Iran can do to improve relations...

as per Bushco...

1. Give all your oil to us.

2. Provide free labor for use in shipping that oil.

3. Execute anyone who says something bad about the US and the oil givaway.

4. Good God, stop working on weapons that could prevent us from taking the oil away from you if things go wrong!

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

5. Don't forget this one.... all brown people living there who don't

agree with BushCo... jump into the ocean and drown.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

6. "We are doing that" WE? There is no US Government assistance

at all on the way. It is all private.
How did King George get involved at all?