Bush accuses Iranians of role in arming Iraq
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By PETER BAKER
Washington Post
WASHINGTON — President Bush bluntly accused Iranian agents Wednesday of providing sophisticated explosives to kill U.S. troops in Iraq but said he did not know whether they were acting on orders of the Islamic republic's leaders and denied using the allegations as a pretext to go to war with Tehran.
The president spent much of the hour-long televised session in the East Room addressing skepticism of his government's assertions regarding Iran and fears of a widening regional conflict.
"The idea that somehow we're manufacturing the idea that the Iranians are providing (explosives) is preposterous," Bush said. Repeating a reporter's question, he added: "Does this mean you're trying to have a pretext for war? No. It means I'm trying to protect our troops."
Bush rejected suggestions that his administration has provided conflicting accounts of the Iranian leadership's involvement in arming Iraqi extremists. On Sunday, U.S. military officials briefing reporters in Baghdad on the condition of anonymity said that the "highest levels" of Iran's government were involved, but Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, later said he would not say the Iranian government is complicit.
"There's no contradiction that the weapons are there and they were provided by the Quds force," an Iranian paramilitary unit, Bush said. He added: "We know that. And we also know that the Quds force is a part of the Iranian government. That's a known. What we don't know is whether or not the head leaders of Iran ordered the Quds force to do what they did."
Bush warns Iran of arming Iraq
Weapons of mass destruction
No fire no spark
Wingless truth posing as lark
Imperialistic hegemony
Enslaving the free will of a nation
Is truth that is stark
War is a reminder that
Peace street walks
Turbulent times
Unhealing tasks
Presidents wearing
Satanic masks
Where is freedom liberty equality
The unfortunate ask
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