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"The U.S. failure to discuss NIE with us before its release shows how
worthless the White House promises were of a strategic dialogue," the
Israeli source said.
On Wednesday, a senior government official gave a briefing that
reflected severe criticism of NIE and the White House. The official warned
that Israel could not expect any U.S. strategic support during Bush's
remaining 13 months in office.
Instead, the official said, Israel must fend for itself and hope to
influence the policy of Bush's successor toward Iran. The official said the
prospect of a U.S. military option against Iran during Bush's presidency was
virtually nil.
"Bush is no longer relevant to the Iranian nuclear weapons program," the
official, who would not be identified, said.
[On Wednesday, Israel's Channel 10 television reported that Iran has
tested a new intermediate-range solid-fuel ballistic missile. The missile,
termed Ashoura, has a range of 2,000 kilometers, and unlike the liquid-fuel
Shihab-3, and can be rapidly prepared for launch.]
This was the first Israeli government criticism of the Bush
administration during the Olmert government, which took office more than 20
months ago. Olmert, with an approval rating of as low as two percent, has
consistently praised White House policy toward Israel and the Middle East.
"The United States has failed to stop Iran," a senior official said.
"This is President Bush's fault and we cannot expect anything different
during his term."
Bush was scheduled to visit Israel in January and discuss Iran and U.S.
plans to establish a Palestinian state. Israeli sources said the U.S.
president could encounter criticism of his policy by senior Cabinet
ministers.
"Today, when Bush looks at Israel, his only thought is how to pressure
us to establish a Palestinian state so he could claim a foreign policy
achievement in his eight years as president," another official said.
"Although his words have usually been warm, they have not been translated
into any meaningful strategic support."
The official said the U.S. administration failed to woo China and Russia
to oppose Iran's nuclear weapons program. He said Washington must intensify
coordination with Beijing and Moscow to avoid defeat in any effort to impose
new United Nations Security Council sanctions on Iran.
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