Bush: Hezbollah, Syria, Iran Must Be Confronted

President Bush says he is sending Rice to the Middle East to meet with regional leaders about the best way to resolve the conflict. "Secretary Rice will make it clear that resolving the crisis demands confronting the terrorist group that launched the attacks, and the nations that support it," said Mr. Bush.

That means Syria and Iran, which, the president says, have helped arm Hezbollah.

"Their actions threaten the entire Middle East, and stand in the way of resolving the current crisis and bringing lasting peace to this troubled region," he added.

"In the long-term, this peace will come only by defeating the terrorist ideology of hatred and fear," he explained. "The world's best hope for lasting security and stability across the Middle East is the establishment of free and just societies. America and our allies will act decisively, because we know our security is at stake in this struggle, and we know the cause of freedom will prevail."

www.voanews.com 7/22/06