Bush accuses Iran of supporting attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq

U.S. President George W. Bush on Wednesday accused Iran of supporting attacks on American troops in Iraq and vowed to "disrupt" the attacks.

"Iran is providing material support for attacks on American troops. We will disrupt the attacks on our forces," Bush said in a prime-time speech Wednesday night announcing his new Iraq strategy.

Bush said for the United States to succeed in Iraq, it "requires defending its territorial integrity and stabilizing the region in the face of extremist challenges," and beginning "with addressing Iran and Syria."

In his address, the president accused both Iran and Syria of "allowing terrorists and insurgents to use their territory to move in and out of Iraq."

He pledged that the United States would "seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq."

Bush also announced that the United States was taking other steps to beef up security of Iraq and protect U.S. interests in the Middle East, such as sending an additional aircraft carrier strike group to the Gulf, expanding intelligence-sharing and deploying Patriot air defense systems to the region.

The United States would work with Turkey and Iraq to help them resolve problems along their border, and work with others to prevent Iran from "gaining nuclear weapons and dominating the region," he said.

Bush urged countries in the Middle East, such Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and other Gulf states to support the Iraq government.

These countries "need to understand that an American defeat in Iraq would create a new sanctuary for extremists and a strategic threat to their survival," and they "have a stake in a successful Iraq that is at peace with its neighbors," said the president.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will be leaving for the region on Friday to build support for Iraq and continue "the urgent diplomacy required to help bring peace to the Middle East," he said.

Source: Xinhua