Kucinich questions Bush's mental health over Iran

WASHINGTON, Oct 31 (Reuters) Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich mockingly questioned President George W Bush's mental health for saying Iran's nuclear ambitions might trigger World War III.

''I seriously believe we have to start asking questions about his mental health,'' Kucinich, a quirky, long-shot candidate in the race for his party's presidential nomination in the November, 2008 election. ''There's something wrong. He does not seem to understand his words have real impact.'' Kucinich spoke to the editorial board of The Philadelphia Inquirer ahead of a Democratic debate in Philadelphia.

Bush told a news conference two weeks ago: ''I've told people that if you're interested in avoiding World War III, it seems like you ought to be interes4ed in preventing them (Iran) from having the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon.'' Kucinich, a member of the US Congress from Ohio, has tried in the past to convince his colleagues to impeach both Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, to no avail.

He told The Inquirer he did not believe his remarks about Bush's mental stability were irresponsible.

''You cannot be a president of the United States who's wanton in his expression of violence,'' Kucinich said yesterday.

''There's a lot of people who need care. He might be one of them. If there isn't something wrong with him, then there's something wrong with us. This, to me, is a very serious question.'' Reuters BJR VP0420