US President Bush warned Syria and Iran today that they "will be held accountable" if they fail to cooperate more with the administration's campaign against terrorism.

US President George W. Bush and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (L) confer after a joint news conference at his central Texas ranch outside of Crawford, July 21, 2003. The prime minister spent the night at the ranch to discuss regional security and military options in Iraq with Bush. [Reuters]

Bush, heading into White House meetings over the next week with the Palestinian and Israeli prime ministers, said it "is time for governments across the Middle East to support the efforts of these two men by fighting terror in all its forms."

"This includes the governments of Syria and Iran," he said, appearing at his ranch with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. "Syria and Iran continue to harbor and assist terrorists. This behavior is completely unacceptable, and states that support terror will be held accountable."

Bush has been persistently critical of Iran, encouraging dissent against the clerics who control the government and insisting that Tehran give up efforts to acquire a nuclear weapon.

Bush had praised Syria in April as "beginning to get the message" to cooperate against terrorists, reflecting Syrian vows to seal its border with Iraq and work to locate fugitives from Saddam Hussein's government. But after his Middle East peace summit in Jordan in early June, Bush said Syria needed to do more in the war on terrorism, and in recent weeks administration officials have expressed disappointment that Syria has not carried through on its pledges.

White House press secretary Scott McClellan said Syria and Iran "are continuing to do things that are unhelpful." Another administration official said that neither country "has made the fundamental, irrevocable choice of which side they are going to be on in the war on terror."

Jon B. Alterman, director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the timing of the comments appeared to be designed to call attention to Bush's vision for the region at a time when violence against U.S. troops continues in Iraq and his justification for the war is being questioned on Capitol Hill. "This administration has been very successful about managing its message, but that has been getting away from them on Iraq," Alterman said. "There has been very little positive in recent weeks."

Syria and Iran have long been on the State Department's list of nations supporting terrorism, and the United States has accused both of supporting violent Palestinian groups. The administration called on Iran in June to stop enriching nuclear fuel and to provide full access to U.N. inspectors.

Administration officials complain that Syria has condoned the smuggling of people and goods in support of terrorism. The officials also said the administration wants Syria to use its influence over Lebanon to help dislodge terrorist groups operating there.

US President George W. Bush and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (in cowboy boots) after a joint news conference on his Central Texas ranch outside of Crawford, July 20, 2003. [Reuters]

Bush is to meet Friday with Palestinian Prime Minster Mahmoud Abbas and next Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as the White House continues to prod the two sides to take steps along the administration-backed "road map" toward peace. Bush reiterated his support for Abbas, whose political standing is shaky. "All leaders who . . . are interested in a peaceful solution in the Middle East must support the efforts of Prime Minister Abbas to build a democratic Palestine," Bush said.

Bush and Berlusconi wore open-collared shirts and black cowboy boots as they stood at lecterns before flags of Italy and the United States. Bush thanked Berlusconi, who is president of the European Union and has been hurt politically at home by his support of the Iraq war.

"Radicalism and ideologies of hatred are a threat to America, to Italy and to all peaceful nations," Bush said.

Just hours after a mortar round struck the U.S. Embassy in Liberia, Bush said he is continuing to work with nations in the region to determine "when they will be prepared to move in the peacekeeper troops that I have said we'll be willing to help move into Liberia."

Administration officials said he had not made his long-delayed decision about whether to answer the call of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan and send in combat troops to help stabilize the capital, Monrovia. The administration said one reason for the delay is the difficulty of negotiating with representatives of rebel groups.

"We're working with the United Nations to affect policy necessary to get the cease-fire back in place," Bush said. "We're monitoring the situation very carefully."

Bush also addressed the chaos and violence in Iraq, saying it is important to understand that "this extension of hostility is really a part of the war to liberate Iraq."

Administration officials said they intend to remain in control of Iraq and have no immediate plans to cede more control to the United Nations. These officials said some governments have said that they want to provide more assistance and that a resolution on reconstruction from the United Nations would help them build support for that domestically. Bush did not rule that out today, but U.S. officials said they do not have immediate plans to seek such a resolution.

"The reconstruction effort shouldn't be viewed as a political exercise," Bush said. "It shouldn't be viewed as an international grab bag." Bush said he talked with Berlusconi about "how to broaden the coalition to bring more security to Iraq." He added, "Obviously, the more help we can get, the more we appreciate it. And we are continuing to work with other nations to ask their help and advice."

Close

Today's Top News		Top International News
+The next great leap after Shenzhou V ( 2003-10-21) +Hu calls for balanced development ( 2003-10-21) +Report: SARS not airborne virus ( 2003-10-21) +Japan urged to resolve weapons issue ( 2003-10-21) +Int'l AIDS group opens Beijing office ( 2003-10-21)		+US hopes Iraq fund will attract donors ( 2003-10-21) +Bolivia ex-president vows to return ( 2003-10-21) +UN report: US war on terror radicalizes Arabs ( 2003-10-21) +Israel raids in Gaza kill 10, wound 100 ( 2003-10-21) +EU ministers arrive in Iran for nuclear talks ( 2003-10-21)