If the Iranians are trying to influence the outcome of the political process, or the outcome of the security situation there, we’re letting them know our displeasure, Bush said at the White House after a briefing by U.S. military officials on the use of Improvised Explosive Devices against U.S. troops in Iraq.
Our call is for those in the neighbourhood to allow Iraq to develop a democracy. And that includes our call to Iran, as well as to Syria, he said.
It’s in the interests of the neighbourhood that Iraq develop to be a peaceful democracy. It’s important for countries to have stable, peaceful, prosperous countries on their border. Prosperity in one nation will help prosperity in other nations, the U.S. President said.
He went on to say that the U.S. was constantly gathering intelligence, monitoring influence, and adjusting its tactics.
There were some people trying to, obviously, foment sectarian violence. Some have called it a civil war. But it didn’t work, Bush said.
