Livni to AIPAC: U.S. can't show weakness on Iraq, Iran

By Shmuel Rosner, Haaretz Correspondent, and The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Monday warned the U.S. not to show weakness in Iraq, during an address to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in Washington, D.C.

In a region where "impressions are important," said Livni, countries must be careful not to demonstrate weakness and surrender to extremists.

"If we appease the extremists - if they feel that we are backing down - they will sense victory and become more dangerous not only to the region, but to the world," she said. "This applies to the decisions made on Iran, it is true for Iraq, and it is true across the Middle East."

The comments could be construed as expressing support for the Bush administration's policy of toughing out a war that is increasingly unpopular domestically. [Open in new window]
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