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President George W. Bush said on Thursday he was "furious" over American deaths in a Palestinian bombing in Israel and officials announced the FBI was launching its own investigation of the attack.
"I'm just as angry as Israel is right now," Bush told reporters in the Oval Office as he met with Jordan's King Abdullah a day after a bombing at a Jerusalem university cafeteria killed seven people, including five Americans. "I'm furious that innocent life was lost. However, through my fury, even though I am mad, I still believe peace is possible."
A senior administration official said the FBI has opened an investigation into the bombing and would cooperate with Israeli law enforcement agencies.
The FBI would look at "everything concerning the deaths" of the Americans in the bombing, which could complicate US attempts to be an evenhanded broker in the Middle East, the official said.
Bush gave no indication that the United States would retaliate against the militant group that claimed responsibility for the attack, Hamas, noting that Israel has a right to defend itself.
"But as I say to all parties involved: We must keep the vision of peace in mind. We must be committed to peace. We must understand that the consequences we take to make the area@secure also must be ... made in the context of peace in the long run."
US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld made clear Washington did not intend to join Israel in any retaliation.
"If you're suggesting that the United States ought to use force in in some way ... I would think it's really unlikely," Rumsfeld told NBC. "I just can't imagine it."
Bush later dropped by a meeting that his national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, had with Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres. Peres told reporters afterward that "basically we see eye to eye on all the issues."
Bush and Abdullah said they both sought a Palestinian state that can exist side by side in peace with Israel.
BUSH, ABDULLAH DISAGREE ON IRAQ
But they differed over US threats to use military force against Iraq, which later on Thursday invited the chief UN weapons inspector to Baghdad for technical talks as a possible step toward the resumption of arms inspections.
The United States is developing military options for dealing with Iraq, which Washington considers part of an "axis of evil" developing weapons of mass destruction and supporting terrorism.
A day before his meeting, Abdullah told The Washington Post that foreign leaders were deeply worried about US plans for war against Iraq, and that it would be a "tremendous mistake" to ignore warnings from US allies against such a campaign. He called for a dialogue with Baghdad to pressure Iraq to accept weapons inspectors.
Asked about Jordan's concerns, Bush made clear he was unswayed. With Abdullah sitting beside him in the Oval Office, Bush said^ "The policy of my government, our government, this administration, is regime change, for a reason," Bush said, saying Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was a menace to the region and his own people.
"We're looking at all options, the use of all tools. I'm a patient man. But I haven't changed my opinion since the last time he (Abdullah) was in the Oval Office," Bush said.
Abdullah basically agreed to disagree with Bush. He said he believes Bush "understands the bigger picture and that peace and stability have been in the forefront of his mind."
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said Bush has not decided what approach to take on Iraq, whether military or otherwise.
(China Daily August 2, 2002)
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