Olmert says stay the course Cautions against early U.S. exit from Iraq
Injecting himself into a deeply contentious U.S. foreign policy debate, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert used the American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference to caution against an early U.S. withdrawal from Iraq.
"I don't want to enter into American politics," he told AIPAC attendees Monday evening, speaking via satellite from Jerusalem, but "any outcome that will not help America's strength Š and will undercut America's ability to deal with the Iranian threat will be very dangerous."
He said that "any outcome that would undercut American success in the region would have a negative effect on Israel, the Gulf states and the stability of the entire Mideast. We must recognize the need for American success in Iraq, and a responsible exit."
There was little reaction to Olmert's remarks from AIPAC attendees gathered at the Washington Convention Center.
When America succeeds in Iraq, Israel is safer, Olmert told them. "The friends of Israel know it; the friends who care about Israel know it," he said.
Discussing Iran, the prime minister said, "This country is creating a very sophisticated weaponry system Š that can deliver bombs to the state of Israel, to European cities," and whose leader has explicitly talked about the need to eradicate Israel.
"When we hear such threats Š we have no choice but to take it seriously, [to] make sure no one has the capacity, means or opportunity" to weaponize, Olmert said.
Olmert, speaking at 4 a.m. Israeli time, called Iran the "main threat to the state of Israel," adding that the United States is the only country that "can confront Iran on nuclear weapons." But he also expressed hope for a diplomatic solution.
This is not the first time Olmert has publicly supported the Iraq war. During a November visit to the White House, Olmert lauded U.S. policy in Iraq, telling President George Bush: "We in the Middle East have followed the American policy in Iraq for a long time, and we are very much impressed and encouraged by the stability which the great operation of America in Iraq brought to the Middle East." ‹ Richard Greenberg and Debra Rubin