U.S.-U.K. Leaders Reaffirm Objectives in Terror War

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

July 30, 2007 - The United States and Great Britain share common values and "an obligation ... to work for freedom and justice around the world," President Bush said today in a joint news conference with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at Camp David, Md., today. "After all, we're writing the initial chapters of what I believe is a great ideological struggle between those of us who do believe in freedom and justice and human rights and human dignity and cold-blooded killers who will kill innocent people to achieve their objectives," Bush said.

Both men said they will continue to work together closely.

Bush thanked Brown for Britain's continued support in Afghanistan and Iraq. "Success in Afghanistan and Iraq will be an integral part of defeating an enemy and helping people realize the great blessings of liberty as the alternative to an ideology of darkness that spreads its murder to achieve its objectives," he said.

"Terrorism is not a cause, it is a crime, and it is a crime against humanity" said Brown, on his first visit to the United States as prime minister. "And there should be no safe haven and no hiding place for those who practice terrorist violence or preach terrorist extremism."

Brown said the British have duties and responsibilities in Iraq to support of the democratically elected government. "Our aim, like the United States, is step by step to move control to the Iraqi ... government and to its security forces as progress is made," he said. "And we've moved from combat to overwatch in three of the four provinces for which we, the British, have security responsibility. We intend to move to overwatch in the fourth province, and that decision will be made on the military advice of our commanders on the ground."

Brown called Afghanistan the front line against terrorism and said the United Kingdom has added to its commitment in the country, providing two more battalions to NATO forces there.

Bush stressed the commonality of purpose between the two leaders on Iraq. "There's no doubt in my mind that Gordon Brown understands that failure in Iraq would be a disaster for the security of our own countries, that failure in Iraq would embolden extremist movements throughout the Middle East, that failure in Iraq would basically say to ... people sitting on the fence around the region that al Qaeda is powerful enough to drive great countries like Great Britain and America out of Iraq before the mission is done," he said.

The president said Brown understands that failure in Iraq would spread violence across the Middle East, and "that a country like Iran would become emboldened."

The Western world is in a generation-long battle against al Qaeda-inspired terrorism, and there is no negotiating with terrorists, Brown said. The battle must include military, diplomatic, intelligence, security, policing and ideological terms.

"So we are at one in fighting the battle against terrorism, and that struggle is one that we will fight with determination and with resilience and right across the world," he said.