Bush Slams Lebanon”s Freedom-Fighting “Terrorists”

U.S. President George Bush, standing before Congress one last time, has said “terrorists” are “fighting” to deny the Lebanese the freedom they want to enjoy.

 

“The terrorists oppose every principle of humanity and decency that we hold dear….In the long run, men and women who are free to determine their own destinies will reject terror and refuse to live in tyranny. And that is why the terrorists are fighting to deny this choice to the people in Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Palestinian Territories,” Bush said Monday.

 

“That is why, for the security of America and the peace of the world, we are spreading the hope of freedom,” he added in his final State of the Union address.

 

Bush reiterated his administration”s resolve to fight extremist forces.

 

“We”re also standing against the forces of extremism embodied by the regime in Tehran … Wherever freedom advances in the Middle East, it seems the Iranian regime is there to oppose it,” he said.

 

“Iran is funding and training militia groups in Iraq, supporting Hizbullah terrorists in Lebanon, and backing Hamas” efforts to undermine peace in the Holy Land,” Bush added.

 

The U.S. president gave the example of the Cedar revolution, which led to the pullout of Syrian troops from Lebanon in April 2005, to stress that people choose freedom when given the chance.

 

“We trust that people, when given the chance, will choose a future of freedom and peace,” he said.

 

“We”ve seen citizens in Georgia and Ukraine stand up for their right to free and fair elections. We”ve seen people in Lebanon take to the streets to demand their independence. We”ve seen Afghans emerge from the tyranny of the Taliban … We”ve seen jubilant Iraqis holding up ink-stained fingers and celebrating their freedom,” he said.