Bush, Blair describe NATO's new role: aiding freedom, democracy
Iraq-USA, Politics, 6/29/2004

Questions about Iraq's return to sovereignty 48 hours ahead of schedule and the effort of democracies to fight terrorism pushed other NATO issues to the background at a joint press conference by U.S. President George Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Speaking at the Istanbul Hilton June 28, the two leaders expressed hope that Afghanistan and Iraq will prevail over the extremists and insurgents who fight their transitional governments, but acknowledged that the process might be difficult and protracted.

Iraq's early transition to sovereignty, Bush said, "is a sign of confidence. It's a sign that we're ready to go. And ... I feel comfortable in making the decision, because I feel comfortable about Prime Minister [Ayad] Allawi and President [Ghazi] al-Yawar. These are strong people. They're gutsy; they're courageous. They're -- as we say in Texas -- stand-up guys. You know, they'll lead. They'll lead their people to a better day. And ... they'll have our friendship and our support, no matter how tough it gets."

Bush noted that the international community, including the U.N. Security Council, has endorsed Iraq's interim government. He added that the United States appreciates NATO's decision to train Iraqi security forces.

Bush said that progress in Iraq "is being attacked by foreign terrorists and by thugs from the fallen regime. The terrorists know they face defeat unless they break the spirit and commitment of the civilized world. The civilized world will not be frightened or intimidated."

Blair added that "if Iraq becomes a stable and democratic country ... that is a huge blow to the propaganda and to the effort of the extremists. That's, in fact, why sometimes I think they have a clearer idea of how important it is to stop us, than sometimes the Western world has...." He called Iraq "the front line of the battle against terrorism and the new security threat that we face."

Blair said that the security threat "has dominated our discussion here at the NATO summit." It is, he said, a "new and poisonous and evil form of extremism, linked to a perversion of the true faith of Islam, and repressive, unstable states that proliferate in and deal in chemical, biological, nuclear weapons...." He termed it "the threat of our times."

It is crucial, Blair said, that NATO fulfill its pledges in Afghanistan and Iraq because "in both those countries, the same struggle for democracy and freedom is going on. ... And so that's why it's right for NATO to step up to the mark today and say, we are going to extend the role of the [Afghanistan] security force."

The British prime minister said "people talk about ... international terrorism today as if somehow it was because of what we have done in Afghanistan or Iraq that this terrorist threat exists. This terrorist threat was building up there for a long time." But in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Blair said democracies "know now that it is important not simply to go in and get after the Taliban in Afghanistan, but also to say, no, we're ... also going to give that country democracy and freedom, because that is actually part of the battle against terrorism...."

Asked whether he agreed with Allawi's reported comments about imposing martial law and "hunting down" the anti-regime elements, Bush replied that Allawi might "take tough security measures to deal with [al-Qaeda collaborator Abu Musab al-Zarqawi,] ... who beheads people on TV ... [and] orders Ôsuiciders' to kill women and children. ... And our job is to help the Iraqis stand up forces that are able to deal with these thugs."

Addressing the journalists at the press conference directly, Bush emphasized that terrorists "can't whip our militaries. What they can do is get on your TV screens and stand in front of your TV cameras and cut somebody's head off, in order to try to cause us to cringe and retreat. That's their strongest weapon."

One questioner asked whether returning sovereignty to Iraq "has changed the views of your more skeptical NATO brethren ... [and] does it matter ... what the critics say?"

"Yes, it matters to me what you say," Bush answered, "because it is important for nations that are blessed by freedom to come together to help nations that are struggling to be free. ... [A] free Iraq and a free Afghanistan are going to set ... a vibrant, bright example for others."

"I don't know whether we've convinced people of this or not," Bush said, but "let's be clear: We wouldn't be talking about democratic elections in Iraq if Saddam was still there."

Bush said the effort to overthrow despotic regimes in Afghanistan and Iraq is not only about taking "tough security measures and tough action where necessary ... but ... also about ... [demonstrating] a value system ... that isn't related to any religion or one religion, one civilization." It is about, he said, "basic values of humanity," in that democracies bring greater security because "they don't have the same aggressive intent that ... unstable or extreme or fanatical regimes do."

Previous Stories:
  Washington Post: US demands Baghdad immunity for American contractors   (6/15/2004)
  Bush confiscates Saddam's pistol   (6/12/2004)
  American embassy in Baghdad will include more than 1500 employees   (6/10/2004)

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