White House downplays Bush remark that nuclear-armed Iran could lead to WWIII

 WASHINGTON, Oct 18 (KUNA) -- White House press spokeswoman Dana Perino on Thursday downplayed a remark by President George W. Bush that a nuclear-armed Iran might lead to World War III.
" ... I think that the President was not making any war plans, and he was not making any declarations," Perino said during a gaggle with reporters at the White House. "He was making a point, and the point is that we do not believe and neither does the international community believe that Iran should be allowed to pursue nuclear weapons -- that that would lead to a ... potentially dangerous situation, and potentially lead to a scenario where you have World War III".
Bush was using that as a rhetorical point, not making a declaration, she said.
During a White House press conference on Wednesday, Bush said, " ... If you are interested in avoiding World War III, it seems like you ought to be interested in preventing them (the Iranians) from having knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon. And I take the threat of Iran with a nuclear weapon very seriously".
Asked if the White House was concerned about Iraq awarding energy contracts to Iran and China, Perino said U.S. officials have encouraged foreign investment in Iraq, "but obviously we are concerned about negative influence from Iran in the country". (end) rm.bs KUNA 181929 Oct 07NNNN