pissing off the world

Iran, Syria denounce Bush's Iraq plan

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran and Syria on Thursday denounced President Bush's new Iraq strategy that blames them for fueling violence in the war-torn country, and they said the plan to send more U.S. troops would only increase bloodshed.

Bush's speech Wednesday night underlined his staunch rejection of recommendations that Washington reach out to Syria and Iran in an attempt to calm Iraq.

Instead, Bush set out plans to isolate the two countries, calling on help from Arab allies and vowing to cut off Syrian and Iranian aid to militants in Iraq. He announced the deployment of an additional aircraft carrier battle group and Patriot air defense missiles to the region — seen as muscle-flexing toward Iran.

In Tehran, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said Bush's plan to send 21,000 more troops to Iraq was a "continuation of occupation" that will only "extend insecurity, danger and tension in the country. This will not help to solve Iraq's problems."

Syrian Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa said Wednesday prior to Bush's speech that the American troop surge was "not a positive step" and would only "pour oil on the fire."

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