Iran, Syria Denounce Bush Plan

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran and Syria on Thursday denounced President Bush's new Iraq strategy, which blames them for fueling violence in the war-torn country, and they said the plan to send more U.S. troops would only increase bloodshed.

Bush's speech Wednesday night underlined his staunch rejection of recommendations that Washington reach out to Syria and Iran in an attempt to calm Iraq. Instead, he set out plans to isolate the two countries, calling on help from Arab allies and vowing to cut off Syrian and Iranian aid to militants in Iraq. He announced the deployment of an additional aircraft carrier battle group and Patriot air defense missiles to the region — seen as muscle-flexing toward Iran.