US President Bush has invited Prime Minister Sharon to visit the White House next week - which some see as yet another signal that an American attack on Iraq is not far off. The two leaders are expected to discuss the upcoming American assault against Saddam Hussein, as well as the American desire for quiet on the Israeli-Palestinian front in the days and weeks leading up to it.
There have been reports of US pressure on Israel to maintain a low profile on the Iraqi issue, so as not to harm coalition-building efforts in anticipation of a strike on Baghdad. The US was reportedly upset that Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said publicly last week that the American attack may occur in November. Prime Minister Sharon, at the weekly Cabinet meeting this morning, told his ministers to keep quiet on Israel’s retaliation strategies in the event that Iraq launches a missile attack on the Jewish State.
President Bush will make his case for a regime change in Iraq when he addresses his citizens on national television tomorrow night. "War with Iraq is liable to become inevitable if Iraq does not disarm in accordance with the UN resolutions," Bush said last night.
There have been reports of US pressure on Israel to maintain a low profile on the Iraqi issue, so as not to harm coalition-building efforts in anticipation of a strike on Baghdad. The US was reportedly upset that Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said publicly last week that the American attack may occur in November. Prime Minister Sharon, at the weekly Cabinet meeting this morning, told his ministers to keep quiet on Israel’s retaliation strategies in the event that Iraq launches a missile attack on the Jewish State.
President Bush will make his case for a regime change in Iraq when he addresses his citizens on national television tomorrow night. "War with Iraq is liable to become inevitable if Iraq does not disarm in accordance with the UN resolutions," Bush said last night.