Bush Says Use of Force Is His Last Choice to Deal with Iraq

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, October 17, 2002

Bush Says Use of Force Is His Last Choice to Deal with Iraq

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US President George W. Bush told visiting Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that the use of force is his last choice to deal with Iraq and he expects the Israelis will respond if Iraq attacks the country.

"I have told the prime minister that my hope is that we can achieve a disarmament of the Iraqi regime peacefully," Bush told reporters after talks with Sharon in the White House Oval Office.

"We have no plans to use our military unless we need to," Bush said. "The military is my last choice, to my first choice."

The US president gave no indication Wednesday that he had triedto persuade Sharon not to retaliate if Israel is attacked by Iraq.

"If Iraq attacks Israel tomorrow, I would assume the prime minister would respond. He's got a desire to defend himself," Bushsaid.

He warned Iraqi President Saddam Hussein that "the international community won't tolerate an unprovoked attack on Israel."

The Bush administration has said it wants to keep Israel out ofany US-led attacks against Iraq as an Israeli response to Iraqi attacks might have an impact on Arab nations.

The Arab world is already uncomfortable about a possible US waragainst Iraq and resentful of US policies regarding the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

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