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11/18/2004
Bush and Blair
President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony
Blair, press conference, November 12, 2004.
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Bush: America’s alliance with Great Britain has never been
stronger. And we’re working closely every day to spread that
freedom that leads to peace.
Our nations have shared in some of the most hopeful and positive
achievements of our time.
The people of Afghanistan have now chosen their president in a
free election. The Taliban and the terrorists did everything they
could to intimidate the long-suffering people of that country, yet
men and women lined up at the polls, some of them waiting for
hours to have their first taste of democracy.
The success of Afghanistan’s election is a standing rebuke to
cynicism and extremism, and a testimony to the power of liberty
and hope.
People of the United States and Great Britain can be proud of the
role we have played in aiding the rise of a free nation and in so
doing making our countries more secure.
Together we’re serving the same cause in Iraq.
Prime Minister Allawi authorized military operations to rid
Fallujah of Saddam holdouts and foreign terrorists, and
American and Iraqi forces have made substantial progress in the
last several days.
Our coalition is training Iraqi security forces who are performing
bravely and taking increasing responsibility for their country’s
security.
British, American and other coalition forces are helping provide
stability that is necessary for free elections. And U.N. officials
are helping the Iraqi people prepare for those elections to be held
in January.
As those elections draw near, the desperation of the killers will
grow and the violence could escalate. Success of democracy in
Iraq will be a crushing blow to the forces of terror and the
terrorists know it.
The defeat of terror in Iraq will set that nation on a course to
lasting freedom and will give hope to millions and the Iraqi
people know it.
The United States and Great Britain have shown our
determination to help Iraqis achieve their liberty and to defend
the security of the world.
We’ll continue to stand with our friends and we will finish the
job.
Prime Minister Blair and I also share a vision of a free, peaceful,
a democratic broader Middle East.
That vision must include a just and peaceful resolution of the
Arab-Israeli conflict, based on two democratic states, Israel and
Palestinian people as they begin a period of mourning. Yet the
months ahead offer a new opportunity to make progress toward a
lasting peace.
Soon Palestinians will choose a new president.
This is the first step in creating lasting, democratic political
institutions through which a free Palestinian people will elect
local and national leaders.
We’re committed to the success of these elections and we stand
ready to help.
I look forward to working with the Palestinian leadership that is
committed to fighting terror and committed to the cause of
democratic reform.
We’ll mobilize the international community to help revive the
Palestinian economy, to build up the Palestinian security
institutions to fight terror, to help the Palestinian government
fight corruption, and to reform the Palestinian political system
and build democratic institutions.
We’ll also work with Israeli and Palestinian leaders to complete
the disengagement plan from Gaza and part of the West Bank.
These steps, if successful, will lay the foundation for progress in
implementing the road map, and then lead to final status
negotiations.
We seek a democratic, independent and viable state for the
Palestinian people. We are committed to the security of Israel as
a Jewish state.
These objectives – two states living side by side in peace and
security – can be reached by only one path: the path of
democracy, reform and the rule of law.
All that we hope to achieve together requires that America and
Europe remain close partners. We are the pillars of the free
world.
We face the same threats and share the same belief in freedom
and the rights of every individual.
In my second term, I will work to deepen our trans-Atlantic ties
with the nations of Europe. I intend to visit Europe as soon as
possible after my inauguration.
My government will continue to work through the NATO
alliance and with the European Union to strengthen cooperation
between Europe and America.
America applauds the success of NATO and E.U. enlargement,
and welcomes the stability and prosperity that that enlargement
brings.
We must apply the combined strength and moral purpose of
Europe and America to effectively fight terror and to overcome
poverty and disease and despair, to advance human dignity and
to advance freedom.
In all that lies ahead, in the defense of freedom and the advance
of democracy and the spread of prosperity, America, the United
Kingdom and all of Europe must act together.
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Blair: There are three major issues that arise. The United States
and the United Kingdom have stood together since September
the 11th, 2001 in order to combat this new form of global
terrorism that we face.
And the three things that we can do most to make sure that we
defeat this terrorism, apart from being ever vigilant on security,
but first of all to bring democracy to Afghanistan, which we are
doing, as the successful election of President Karzai shows. And
that is quite a magnificent tribute, not just to the courage of the
Afghan people, but actually also to the power of democracy.
Secondly, we have to complete our mission in Iraq: make sure
that Iraq is a stable and a democratic country.
And I have no doubt at all that whatever the difficulties the
terrorists and insurgents, supporters of Saddam Hussein may
pose for us, that we will overcome those difficulties, ourselves,
the multinational force together with the Iraqi government, and
ensure that Iraq can be that democratic, stable state that the vast
majority of Iraqis I know will want to see.
And the third thing is, as the president rightly said a moment or
two ago, we meet at a crucial time, where it is important that we
revitalize and reinvigorate the search for a genuine, lasting and
just peace in the Middle East.
I would like to repeat my condolences to the Palestinian people
at this time.
As you will have seen, we have set out the steps that we believe
are necessary to get into a process that will lead to the two-state
solution that we want to see.
And I think those steps are very clear.
They are, first of all, making sure that we set out a clear vision.
That clear vision was articulated by President Bush some time
ago, repeated by him today, of a two-state solution; two
democratic states living side by side together in peace.
The second thing is we need to support those Palestinian
elections. That is a chance for the first beginnings of democracy
to take hold on the Palestinian side, so it’s important that we
support it.
Thirdly, however, if we want a viable Palestinian state, we need
to make sure that the political, the economic and the security
infrastructure of that state is shaped and helped to come into
being.
We will mobilize international opinion and the international
community in order to do that.
The fourth thing is that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s plan for
disengagement is important. I think we recognized that when we
were here at the White House back in April this year. That
disengagement plan is now going forward. It’s important that we
support it.
And then on the basis of this, we are able, in accordance with the
principles of the road map, to get back into final status
negotiation so that we have that two-state solution.
And I think there is every possibility that we can do this with the
energy and the will, and the recognition that in the end it is only
if the two states that we want to see living side by side are indeed
democratic states, where the rule of law and human rights are
respected in each of them, that a just peace could be secured. I
would also like to support very strongly what the president’s just
said about the trans-Atlantic alliance.
Again, I think there is a tremendous desire and willingness on the
part of certainly our partners in the European Union to make sure
that that alliance is strong. It’s necessary for the security of the
world. It’s necessary for us to be able to tackle many of the
problems that confront us.
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Prime Minister Blair, when questioned on the U.S. / Britain
relationship and the perception in some quarters that Blair is
Bush’s “poodle.”
“We’re not fighting the war against terrorism because we are an
ally of the United States. We are an ally of the United States
because we believe in fighting this war against terrorism.
“We share the same objectives. We share the same values.
“And if we look back over our own history in the last half
century or more, we, both of us in different ways, United States
and Britain, have a cause to be thankful for this alliance and this
partnership.
“And I believe we should be thankful that it is as strong as it is
today.
“And as long as I remain prime minister of our country it will
carry on being strong, not because that’s in the interests of
America simply or in the interests of the international
community, but because I believe passionately it is in the interest
of Britain.”
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Separately, Blair gave a speech back in London on Monday
(11/15) about the campaign on terrorism.
“What is entirely sensible is for Europe to say that terrorism
won’t be beaten by toughness alone. Here there is an
opportunity for Europe. American policy is evolving.
“Increasingly both Europe and America are coming to realize
that lasting security against fanatics and terrorists cannot be
provided by conventional military force but requires a
commitment to democracy, freedom and justice .
“Democracy is the meeting point for Europe and America.
“I am not – repeat not – advocating a series of military solutions
to achieve it, but I am saying that patiently but plainly Europe
and America should be working together to bring the democratic,
human and political rights we take for granted to the world
denied them.
“When Kofi Annan reports back to the UN in some weeks time
on UN reform, one reform we should insist on is a greater role of
leadership for the UN on the responsibility of states to protect not
injure their own citizens.
“None of this will work, however, unless America too reaches
out. Multilateralism that works should be its aim. I have no
sympathy for unilateralism for its own sake.”
[Source: BBC News]
Blair came to Washington expecting more cooperation from
President Bush and is expressing this above. He may end up
being disappointed.
Hott Spotts will return November 25.
Brian Trumbore
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