(AP/San Francisco Chronicle) - President Bush's strong defense of Israel's air strike on Syria is erasing any differences between the U.S. and Israel on the tactics of fighting terror. The White House has concluded Syria is on the wrong side of the war against terror, and longtime State Department reservations about Israel's tactics are being swept aside by Bush's public stance. The Bush administration, led by the president, is now in full-throated denunciation of Syria for harboring and supporting extremist groups. A senior U.S. official said Tuesday the installation struck last weekend by Israeli missiles was in active operation, training terrorists. Bush on Tuesday said Israel's air strike was essential to its defense. "We would be doing the same thing," he said. "This country will defend our people." "Israel will not be deterred from protecting its citizens and will strike its enemies in every place and in every way," Prime Minister Sharon said Tuesday.
2003-10-08 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive