President Bush Slams Hizbullah, Says he Will Make Sure 'Terrorists Have No Place' in Lebanon

U.S. President George Bush has said he and his allies are going to make sure that "terrorists" do not have a place in a "democratic" Lebanon, adding that the world faces a grave threat from Hizbullah-backer Iran.

After lauding troop contributions by France, Italy and other countries for the beefed up U.N. peacekeeping mission in south Lebanon, Bush said "together, we're going to make it clear to the world that foreign forces and terrorists have no place in a free and democratic Lebanon."

"This summer's crisis in Lebanon has made it clearer than ever that the world now faces a grave threat from the radical regime in Iran. The Iranian regime arms, funds, and advises Hizbullah, which has killed more Americans than any terrorist network except al-Qaida," Bush said in a speech at the American Legion National Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah on Thursday.

"We know the death and suffering that Iran's sponsorship of terrorists has brought, and we can imagine how much worse it would be if Iran were allowed to acquire nuclear weapons," Bush said.

He described those who join Hizbullah as radicalized followers of the Shiite tradition.

"The enemies of liberty come from different parts of the world...Some are radicalized followers of the Sunni tradition, who swear allegiance to terrorist organizations like al-Qaida. Others are radicalized followers of the Shiite tradition, who join groups like Hizbullah and take guidance from state sponsors like Syria and Iran."

He recalled the massive demonstrations against Syrian tutelage that followed ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's assassination last year, saying the "courageous people of Lebanon" took to the streets and drove Syrian troops out of the country.

"The Syrians withdrew their armed forces, and the Lebanese people elected a democratic government that began to reclaim their country."

But he said Hizbullah's July 12 cross-border raid came as a result of an attempt by the "enemies" of the United States to undermine Premier Saniora's government.

"Our enemies saw the transformation in Lebanon and set out to destabilize the young democracy. Hizbullah launched an unprovoked attack on Israel that undermined the democratic government in Beirut."

Bush said, however, that the world united in support for the country's democracy and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice played an important role in passing the truce resolution that ended fighting between Israel and Hizbullah on August 14.

"Rice worked with the Security Council to pass Resolution 1701, which will strengthen Lebanese forces as they take control of southern Lebanon -- and stop Hizbullah from acting as a state within a state."

Bush's address to the American Legion convention was the first in a series of Iraq speeches by the U.S. president.

He cited risks in quitting Iraq and said "the security of the civilized world depends on victory in the war on terror, and that depends on victory in Iraq."

He also said that the war against Islamic militants was like the fight against Nazis and communists and that a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq would lead to that nation's conquest by America's worst enemies.

Source: Naharnet