|
|
 |
Israel Assured of America’s Loyalty
U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney on Monday said at a U.S-Israeli conference that Israel has never had a better friend in the United States than President Bush. Most speakers at the conference of America’s largest pro-Israeli lobbying group called for joint actions against Iran. The Democrats, meanwhile, have scrapped a provision barring the U.S. administration from attacking Iran without congressional approval.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee Policy Conference brought together hundred of influential political and public figures of the two countries in Washington.
The speech of U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney focused on Iraq, trying to refute sever common myths about the war on terror. He insisted that war in Iraq is part of the global war on terrorism and underscored the need for a troops increase in the country. Speaking about appeals to withdraw from Iraq, Mr. Cheney said that the pull-out would leave the country torn in a war between the Shiites and the Sunnis. He also lashed out at the Democrats who push for the pull-out from Iraq but support active actions against Iran.
“I stand here today as a strong supporter of Israel, and Israel has never had a better friend in the White House than George Bush,” Vice-President assured the audience.
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni also spoke about Iran in her address, calling for joint actions against Teheran. The U.S.-Israel alliance is a partnership based on common values, the minister emphasized.
Israel’s former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also attended the conference, called for sanctions against companies which invest in the Iranian economy. The possible ban may hit Russian companies hard.
Speaking by a video link from Israel, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert addressed the conference at a gala dinner where President candidates Hillary Clinton, Barak Obama, Joe Biden and Sam Brownback were also in attendance.
On the same day, the pro-Israeli lobbyists demonstrated their influence in the Congress, excluding a provision barring the president from launching any military operation against Iran without congressional approval.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Mar. 14, 2007
|
|
|
