Cheney aide: Bush won't attack Iran

JERUSALEM, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush won't attack Iran's nuclear facilities before his term expires, a former White House adviser says.

David Wurmser, a key national security adviser to Vice President Dick Cheney until last year, says Bush favors the position of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who advocates continuing diplomatic efforts with Iran, The Jerusalem Post reported Wednesday.

"Two things have to be in place for there to be an attack," Wurmser told the newspaper. "That time has run out and that diplomacy has run out. The feeling to a large extent now is that diplomacy is working, that there is a trend in the regime toward moderation, that pressure is building on the regime."

Wurmser said Rice had prevailed in a White House struggle with Cheney on whether the United States should launch an airstrike against Iran's nuclear enrichment installations, which Cheney contends are meant to produce weapons.

Wurmser also told the Post that Bush didn't feel any urgency to strike Iran now, believing there is still some time before Tehran achieves sufficient nuclear capabilities for a weapon.