By Barry Schweid
AP Diplomatic Writer
Tuesday, April 2, 2002; 1:54 AM
WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration is linking Iran, Iraq and Syria to the terror attacks on Israel, accusing the three nations of "inspiring and financing a culture of political murder and suicide bombing."
The accusation by Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld broadened the tough rhetoric President Bush again directed Monday at Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
"There will never be peace so long as there is terror, and all of us must fight terror," Bush said. "I'd like to see Chairman Arafat denounce the terrorist activities that are taking place, the constant attacks."
The State Department, meanwhile, appealed to Israel to "carefully consider the consequences" of its military thrust into the West Bank city of Ramallah, where Arafat is trapped inside his Palestinian Liberation Organization headquarters.
Clear shadings of emphasis emerged from the various parts of the administration in its rhetorical offensive.
Bush and his spokesman, Ari Fleischer, focused on Arafat, demanding the Palestinian leader denounce terror. The State Department delivered a more evenhanded lecture to Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
And at the Pentagon, Rumsfeld offered a searing indictment of Iran, Iraq and Syria as supporters of a terrorist "war on civilization."
Without venturing a judgment on Israel's method of retaliation, Rumsfeld suggested the United States would take stern measures under similar circumstances.
"When the United States is hit by terrorist attacks, you have a choice. You can say, 'Gee, that's too bad,' or you can go try to find the terrorists and do something about it," Rumsfeld said.
"We cannot afford as a country to not seek out the terrorists and the countries that harbor terrorists," he said.
The overall aim was to register U.S. resolve against terrorists who have subjected Israel to the deadliest series of bombings in its difficult 54-year history.
Bush appealed to Arafat to order an end to the assaults on Israel and on settlers and soldiers on the West Bank. Suicide bombing in the name of religion is nothing but terror, he said.
"There will never be peace so long as there is terror, and all of us must fight terror," Bush said. "I'd like to see Chairman Arafat denounce the terrorist activities that are taking place, the constant attacks."
"It would be constructive if Chairman Arafat ... would take that step and say suicide bombings are not the way to achieve peace in the region," Fleischer said.
In a softer vein, Bush urged Sharon to "keep a pathway to peace open" while protecting his nation and said he believed the prime minister remained committed to plans the United States is pushing for a lasting cease-fire and steps toward peace.
Responding to a bipartisan clamor from members of Congress that he intervene more directly in the crisis, Bush said his critics "must have not been with me in Crawford when I was on the phone all morning long" talking to leaders in the region. The president spent the Easter weekend at his ranch in Crawford, Texas.
Evidently, sending Secretary of State Colin Powell to the region as suggested Sunday by Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., was not an option under discussion at the White House as Bush met with his senior security advisers.
Powell, however, spoke by telephone with Arafat and Sharon on Saturday; with the foreign ministers of Spain, Israel, Japan, Britain and the European Union over the weekend; and with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Sharon again on Monday.
"Terror will never advance Palestinian political aspirations," State Department deputy spokesman Philip Reeker said. Palestinian leaders must act now against those responsible, he said, and make clear to the Palestinian people that terror and violence must stop.
Reeker also aimed remarks at Sharon's military thrust into Ramallah.
"We're gravely concerned at the situation in Ramallah and other areas where Israeli forces are moving. We deplore the killing and wounding of innocent Palestinians. And we urge Israel to use maximum restraint to avoid harm to civilians and permit access for humanitarian services," Reeker said.
At the Pentagon, meanwhile, Rumsfeld tore into Iran, Iraq and Syria for support they have given for years to groups whose assaults on Israel are now accelerating.
"Murderers are not martyrs," Rumsfeld said. "Targeting civilians is immoral, whatever the excuse."
The defense secretary specifically accused Iran and Syria of funneling arms to Lebanon for use by terrorists and criticized Iraq for offering payments of up to $25,000 to families of Palestinian suicide bombers.
© 2002 The Associated Press
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