Bush: Iraq Success Important To Send Message To Iran

WASHINGTON (AFP)--U.S. President George W. Bush said Friday that success in Iraq is important to send a "clear message" to Iran's leaders that they cannot " have their way" with other countries in the Middle East.

"We want to send a clear message to Iran that they're not going to be able to have their way with nations in the Middle East," Bush said, enumerating the key reasons the U.S. must be successful in helping to establish a democracy in Iraq.

(Updates with additional quotes from press conference)

WASHINGTON (AFP)--U.S. President George W. Bush said Friday that success in Iraq is important to send a "clear message" to Iran's leaders that they cannot " have their way" with other countries in the Middle East.

"The reason why it's ... important to be successful in Iraq, is because, one, we want to help establish a democracy in the heart of the Middle East, the most volatile region of the world," Bush said.

"Two, we want to send a clear message to Iran that they're not going to be able to have their way with nations in the Middle East," he continued.

"Three, that we want to make it clear that we can defeat Al-Qaeda. Al-Qaeda made a stand in Iraq. They're the ones who said this is the place where the war will, you know, take place. And the defeat of Al-Qaeda will be a major victory in this war against extremists and radicals."

Bush was speaking in a White House press conference with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.