Counterterrorism & Iraq Top U.S.-U.K. Agenda

By David McKeeby
USINFO Staff Writer

Counterterrorism, Iraq Top U.S.-U.K. Agenda

The United States and the United Kingdom have reaffirmed their continued commitment to fighting terrorism and stabilizing Iraq.

"Any time you share values the way we share values, it makes it easy to have strategic conversations," President Bush told reporters in a July 30 joint press appearance with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown after two-days of talks between the two leaders. "It makes it easy to be able to have common ground on which to deal with these problems."

The press briefing followed two days of talks at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland. The talks marked Bush's first official meeting with the new prime minister, who succeeded Tony Blair on June 27.

Although observers have sought signs of a possible shift in the new prime minister's approach to Washington, Brown echoed Bush's emphasis on shared values. The prime minister quoted Winston Churchill's famous observation that both nations share, "a joint inheritance of liberty, a belief in opportunity for all, a belief in the dignity of every human being."

For this reason, Brown said he and Bush "are as one" in their view on the importance of confronting terrorism, such as failed attempts by extremists to launch new attacks in London and Glasgow, Scotland, since Brown took office.

"Terrorism is not a cause, it is a crime -- and it is a crime against humanity," Brown said. "And there should be no safe haven and no hiding place for those who practice terrorist violence or preach terrorist extremism."

"We're dealing with a variety of methodologies to deal with them," Bush said. "One is intelligence, one is law enforcement, and one is military. We've got to use all assets at [our] disposal to find them and bring them to justice."

Brown said his government would continue the commitment of his predecessor's government to Iraq. He highlighted Britain's progress toward transitioning security responsibilities to local army and police units in three of four southern Iraqi provinces where British coalition forces operate.

"Our aim, as is the aim of the United States government, is threefold: security for the Iraqi people, political reconciliation and that the Iraqis have a stake in the future," Brown said.

Also on the agenda were support for tougher sanctions against Iran's nuclear program, the Middle East peace process, the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, alleviation of global poverty and disease; global trade talks, and efforts to address climate change.

A transcript of Bush and Brown's remarks is available on the White House Web site.

ENDS

USINFO is produced by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State

© Scoop Media