Bush Blocked Israel Attack on Iran

Prez refused plea to back bombing of nuke facilities
By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 26, 2008 3:00 AM CDT
Bush Blocked Israel Attack on Iran
The Shahab-3 missile, which is claimed to be capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and reaching Europe, Israel and US forces in the Middle East.    (AP Photo)

Israel asked Washington for a green light to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities but was told no, reports the Guardian. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert made the request in a private meeting with President Bush in May, but Bush feared air strikes over several days would lead to full-scale war and terrorist attacks in the US.

Israel would need to fly over US-controlled Iraqi airspace to launch the attack, which would imply White House approval of the offensive. An Olmert spokesman tacitly denied that the request had been made, but said "the need to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons is raised at every meeting between the prime minister and foreign leaders.”
(More Iran stories.)

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