UK forces joining attack (WITH YOU AT THE FIRST, WITH YOU TO THE LAST, AMERICA)

BBC ^ | October 7, 2001 | BBC

[MadIvan]

UK forces are involved in the military attacks on Afghanistan, it has been confirmed. US President George W Bush confirmed UK involvement as he said in a White House address that the US had begun military action. "We are joined in this operation by our staunch friend, Great Britain," he said.

Downing Street also confirmed that British forces are taking part in the operation.

"We can confirm that British forces are engaged in the military action that has begun against targets in Afghanistan," the Prime Minister's spokesman said.

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is due to make a statement at 10 Downing Street shortly.

Cruise missiles

It was reported on the US television channel CNN that cruise missiles had been fired from British and American ships.

About 24 British Royal Navy warships as well as 23,000 British troops are in the region.

They had been sent there before the 11 September US attacks for long-planned exercises with the Omanis, known as Saif Sareea 2.

The leader of the opposition Conservative party, Iain Duncan Smith, said he would make a statement after he had spoken to Downing Street.

It is possible that the Conservative party conference, for which MPs whad been gathering in Blackpool on Sunday, may be cancelled.

Story 2:

Blair pays tribute to British forces

Prime Minister Tony Blair paid tribute to the British forces in action in Afghanistan saying they were "amongst the best in the world".

Mr Blair praised the "courageous" soldiers whose "sense of duty" is renowned "throughout the world".

It has been confirmed that British missile-firing submarines are in action against Afghanistan.

Mr Blair said: "There are dangers in action, but there are also dangers in inaction and those dangers are far far greater.

He moved to reassure people that Britain itself was not under-threat, saying: "There is no specific credible threat to the British people."

He also said that efforts were being made to help refugees displaced by the conflict.

"We are assembling a coalition for refugees from Afghanistan, which is as important as the military action.

"Britain is heavily involved in that humanitarian action."

Mr Blair said: "This is not a war against Islam. It angers me to hear bin Laden described as Islamic terrorist. They are terrorists pure and simple.

Menzies Campbell, Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman, said: "These operations have become inevitable.

"The Taleban have been given every opportunity to give up bin Laden and withdraw support from his terrorist network.

"Under international law these are legitimate targets. Every effort must be made to minimise civilian casualties."

"Once again the lives of the brave men and women of Britain's armed services are at risk. We wish them a safe return," Mr Campbell continued.

[Bigg Red]

We're with you, brother.

Let's Roll!

[SurferDoc]

God Bless and all the Cousins over there. Tell them thanks for us.

[MadIvan]

A left leaning country that never misses a chance to fight. I may even fly a Union Jack for a while. :-}

Not that left leaning. The Conservative Party of Great Britain is the most successful political party in European history (in terms of winning elections). Besides, we had Our Maggie. ;)

Regards, Ivan

[B Knotts]

Together, we shall persevere!

[Squire]

BUMPITY BUMP.

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

Together, Let Us Go Forward Together!

[MadIvan]

Do not let us speak of darker days: let us speak rather of sterner days. These are not dark days; these are great days - the greatest days our country has ever lived; and we must all thank God that we have been allowed, each of us according to our stations, to play a part in making these days memorable in the history of our race. - Winston Churchill, 1941

Regards, Ivan

[tet68]

At least we won't have to say,"Where were you at Kabul?"(Gheluvelt);^)

God Bless you all and keep your troops safe.

This is just the beginning,our lives will be changed forever.
Still,we have no road to travel but this one,
the terrorists will not stop no matter what we do .

[eccl1212]

That will energize the rest of the zealots.

I think it will too. And I believe that this is what we WANT. If they start to act up, in other places, we CAN and hopefully WILL take action there next.

It will get worse before it gets better, but unless we let the conflict expand and reveal WHO all is involved at the state level, we have no state to target... in the world's view.

NOBODY wants war. We want to increase our level of safety from rogue states and terrorist organizations... This afghan action, is part of the "smoke em out" and "keep em runnin" strategy, I think.

The idea that our cousins and such are all in harms way, when it comes to terrorist attacks as this unfolds DOES bother me... BUT if we don't take THE BAD GUYS out, they are going to do us first... in fact, they already did.

Respectfully.. my opinion, (not solicited of course)

[ArmoredCav]

British Steel ! The Brits are the best! ( and this is from an Irishman!)

[mountaineer]

God bless the UK, its leaders and its troops. I watched Mr Blair's statement on TV, and appreciated that he said the terrorists have declared war on Britain, too, not just the U.S.

[MeekOneGOP]

The US and Britain do stick with one another at times like these, don't they? I've never been a big fan of Tony Blair, but since September 11th, he has been our good friend and I won't forget that ever! Thanks for the post, MadIvan! And God Bless President Bush, Tony Blair and the Allied Troops!

---

Excerpt of President Bush's radio address to the nation September 15, 2001 after the WTC/Pentagon Terrorists Attacks of September 11, 2001:

This is a conflict without battlefields or beachheads, a conflict with opponents who believe they are invisible. Yet, they are mistaken. They will be exposed, and they will discover what others in the past have learned: Those who make war against the United States have chosen their own destruction.

Tony Blair and President Bush back up the talk quite nicely, don't you think?:

[NMC EXP]

This is a long, sustained war against Bin Laden, the nations that helped him and terror in general - make no mistake - this war is about making the terrorists pay such a price that others in the future will be reluctant to try it.I beg to disagree. As I see it, the best option is to punch bin Ladin's ticket quietly, do not pubicize the event.....he just went away. Making a big deal over it will invite responses from his lackelys.

Why not just make this guy go away, in a mysterious manner. Make him cease to exist, with no chance to become a martytr? He simply ceases to exist

[VOA]

UK forces joining attack (WITH YOU AT THE FIRST, WITH YOU TO THE LAST, AMERICA)

I've been pinching myself since Blair's first speech after 9-11.
I never thought he'd be doing a creditable imitation of Churchill in response to the
terrorist acts and solidly following through.

I may still think he's relatively a socialist, but he's no push-over!

[LS]

God Save the Queen.

[MadIvan]

I disagree. After all, if Osama "punches the clock", it is very likely that the terrorists will still know who did it.

Second, it doesn't make an example of him - a public, messy example of what happens when you perpetrate outrages. Indeed, it makes the West look like a bunch of wimps.

Blair and Bush are on the right track in this.

Regards, Ivan

[jwalsh07]

Besides, we had Our Maggie. ;)

Ah yes, you're blessed Maggie. We love her as well and we will keep your lads in our prayers as if they were our own. Thank them for us MadIvan.

[Tijeras_Slim]

As always, thank you for your work and support on the other side of the pond.
Question: Has Blair really undergone as much of a change as it seems, or have we Yanks been viewing him through the lens of our Presidents? Your opinion would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Slim

[MadIvan]

Blair is peculiar - he has flashes of brilliance, times when he does the right thing. He has stood up to the unions on occasion, for example. But this is the longest, most sustained flash of brilliance he has ever had.

I believe there are, in essence, two Blairs - the Socialist part and the Winston part. You are seeing the Winston part come out right now.

This means he is different from Clinton because Clinton had no shining moments whatsoever.

Regards, Ivan

[A Navy Vet]

Salute!