The Queen and President Bush at Buckingham Palace
Posted on 11/19/2003 6:32:42 AM PST by Mark Felton
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The Queen and President Bush at Buckingham Palace
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He told the audience at London's Banqueting House that the danger of terrorists using weapons of mass destruction aided by dictators represented "the greatest threat of our age".
He said: "The evil is in plain sight. The danger only increases with denial.
"Great responsibilities have fallen once again to the great democracies. We will face these threats with open eyes and we will defeat them."
President Bush said a global response was needed to such threats, along with a recognition that "in some cases the measured use of force is all that protect us from a chaotic world ruled by force".
He said the people of Baghdad had rejoiced on the fall of Saddam Hussein and now had the right to free speech as enjoyed in the UK and the US.
Who will say that Iraq was better off when Saddam Hussein was strutting and killing or that the world was safer when he held power? 
President George W. Bush
"The dictator had been given many chances to account for his weapons programmes. Now the resolutions he defied had been enforced.
"Who will say that Iraq was better off when Saddam Hussein was strutting and killing, or that the world was safer when he held power?"
'Alliance of values'
Defending the war in Iraq, Mr Bush said the UK and US shared "a mission in the world beyond the balance of power or the simple pursuit of interest".
"We seek the advance of freedom and the peace that freedom brings," he said.
"Together, our nations are standing and sacrificing for this high goal in a distant land at this very hour."
President Bush paid tribute to UK service personnel who died in the war in Iraq and those serving in the country.
The US president was given an official Royal welcome
And he said the UK and the US enjoyed a "very strong" relationship based on "an alliance of values".
He vowed that the coalition would not turn away from Iraq in the face of threats from "thugs".
He also reaffirmed his pledge to work towards a viable Palestinian state amid security for Israel.
Mr Bush was earlier welcomed by the Queen at a ceremony full of pageantry at Buckingham Palace.
The president's visit comes amid unprecedented security due to anti-war protests and increased terror fears.
Security review
Despite the intense policing the visit began amid claims the Mirror newspaper had exposed a breach in security.
The claims have prompted a Buckingham Palace investigation and Home Secretary David Blunkett has made a statement to MPs about the incident.
The Mirror newspaper claimed one of its reporters got a job as a footman in the palace using fake references and was set to serve the president's staff breakfast.
At Prime Minister's Questions, Tony Blair stressed the importance of Britain's relationship with the US.
Conservative leader Michael Howard paid tribute to Mr Blair's close relationship with Mr Bush.
The Stop the War Coalition predicts that 100,000 people will take to the streets on Thursday for the main protest against Mr Bush's visit.
The formal welcome for Mr Bush and his wife Laura from the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh came after a 41-gun salute.
They were driven the short distance from the Belgian suite, where they are staying, to be met by the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, Mr Blair and other dignitaries.
After the American national anthem was played they inspected the guard, before the Queen gave the president a private viewing of the Royal Collection of art.
Protest parties
As the president set out his defence of the war, peace campaigners are attempting to demonstrate their opposition in a series of protests across the capital.
Parliament Square, the South Bank and the Exxon-Mobil headquarters are among the locations earmarked for demonstrations.
A "roaming" Street Party and a Resist Bush Tea Party are also planned, while London Mayor Ken Livingstone has organised a peace party in City Hall for groups opposed to the war in Iraq.
Full route map of Thursday's protest
Mr Bush is due to meet British families of those who died in the 11 September attacks in New York, although a trip to the memorial gardens at the US Embassy was cancelled due to security concerns.
The president is also due to meet Mr Howard, who supported the war, and the Liberal Democrat leader, Charles Kennedy, who opposed it.
In the evening, Mr and Mrs Bush will be guests of honour at a state banquet at the Palace.
Scotland Yard has put in place a £5m operation which will see over 5,000 police on the capital's streets.
Police agreed the mass protest on Thursday could march up Whitehall after receiving reassurances from organisers that it would be peaceful.
"Great responsibilities have fallen once again to the great democracies. We will face these threats with open eyes and we will defeat them."
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BBC + links to Pres. Bush's speech, and DU commentary.
Riled critics misunderestimated GW ~ again. *g*
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The Germans just can't seem to get over the Jew question can they? does/Did this guy write for the Brown Shirt Review or what?
That should be repeated for years to come if the UN can last that long.
I am not positive but I think it is Prince Phillip with GWB
It's been said that those who live near a police station find it hard to believe in the triumph of violence, in the same way free peoples might be tempted to take for granted the orderly societies we have come to know. Europe's peaceful unity is one of the great achievements of the last half-century. And because European countries now resolve differences through negotiation and consensus, there's sometimes an assumption that the entire world functions in the same way. But let us never forget how Europe's unity was achieved -- by allied armies of liberation and NATO armies of defense. And let us never forget, beyond Europe's borders, in a world where oppression and violence are very real, liberation is still a moral goal, and freedom and security still need defenders. (Applause.)
I consider this paragraph one ofthe most important points in the speech. Bush is serving Europe notice that their freedom was the result of military force. He also let them know that they have lived in a "bubble" outside the real worldm which was made possible by the US security umbrella. The Europeans have led an insulated life after WWII and believe that they can negotiate and discuss their way out of military threats and attacks. Bush made it quite clear the real world is quite different.
Unfortunately, our media will decide that the Michael Jackson story is more significant than the Bush speech. Tough break on the timing.
It's been said that those who live near a police station find it hard to believe in the triumph of violence, in the same way free peoples might be tempted to take for granted the orderly societies we have come to know. Europe's peaceful unity is one of the great achievements of the last half-century. And because European countries now resolve differences through negotiation and consensus, there's sometimes an assumption that the entire world functions in the same way. But let us never forget how Europe's unity was achieved -- by allied armies of liberation and NATO armies of defense. And let us never forget, beyond Europe's borders, in a world where oppression and violence are very real, liberation is still a moral goal, and freedom and security still need defenders. (Applause.)
I consider this paragraph one ofthe most important points in the speech. Bush is serving Europe notice that their freedom was the result of military force. He also let them know that they have lived in a "bubble" outside the real worldm which was made possible by the US security umbrella. The Europeans have led an insulated life after WWII and believe that they can negotiate and discuss their way out of military threats and attacks. Bush made it quite clear the real world is quite different.
Unfortunately, our media will decide that the Michael Jackson story is more significant than the Bush speech. Tough break on the timing.
It's been said that those who live near a police station find it hard to believe in the triumph of violence, in the same way free peoples might be tempted to take for granted the orderly societies we have come to know. Europe's peaceful unity is one of the great achievements of the last half-century. And because European countries now resolve differences through negotiation and consensus, there's sometimes an assumption that the entire world functions in the same way. But let us never forget how Europe's unity was achieved -- by allied armies of liberation and NATO armies of defense. And let us never forget, beyond Europe's borders, in a world where oppression and violence are very real, liberation is still a moral goal, and freedom and security still need defenders. (Applause.)
I consider this paragraph one ofthe most important points in the speech. Bush is serving Europe notice that their freedom was the result of military force. He also let them know that they have lived in a "bubble" outside the real worldm which was made possible by the US security umbrella. The Europeans have led an insulated life after WWII and believe that they can negotiate and discuss their way out of military threats and attacks. Bush made it quite clear the real world is quite different.
Unfortunately, our media will decide that the Michael Jackson story is more significant than the Bush speech. Tough break on the timing.
The first you may be familiar with, it is "The Rise And Fall Of The Third Reich" by William Shirer. An excellent book that is very thorough. Make sure you get the unabridged copy (over 1,100 pages) as it is far superior to the abridged volumes out there.
The second is Part 1 of Winston Churchill's The Second World War. It is titled "The Gathering Storm" and focuses on the peaceniks who continued to appease Hitler every step of the way. Everytime Hitler went against his word, these pathetic fools would continue to trust him. "This is the last time he deceives us," they would say, "Next time we will surely put our foot down." But it never happened until it was too late to stop WW2.
Despite its comprehensiveness, the major flaw of Shirer's book is its socialist worldview. It's time for Paul Johnson to author new major work on the Reich to supercede Shirer!
President George W. Bush has learned.
Mary
GWB's historic UK speech today -- "We did not charge hundreds of miles into the heart of Iraq and pay a bitter cost of casualties and liberate 25 million people only to retreat before a band of thugs and assassins.
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