Bush sets out 'mission for freedom'

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US President George Bush has mounted an impassioned defence of the invasion of Iraq and vowed to win the war on terror.
During the first day of his historic state visit to London he said the US and the UK "share a mission" as defenders of freedom across the globe.

And 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".

"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."

The speech to foreign affairs experts came amid tight security for the president's visit.

Later on Wednesday police made some arrests as protesters gathered in the Mall near Buckingham Palace.

In his speech, Mr Bush said a global response was needed to address 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".

Defending the war in Iraq, he said: "The dictator had been given many chances to account for his weapons programmes. Now the resolutions he defied have 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'

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."



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.

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.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman has said it is not ruling out legal action against the newspaper and its reporter.

In his Banqueting House speech, President Bush paid tribute to UK service personnel who died in the war in Iraq and those serving in the country.



And he said the UK and the US enjoyed a "very strong" relationship based on "an alliance of values".

Hailing the support he has received from Tony Blair, he went on: "The British people are the sort of partners you want when serious work needs doing.

"The men and women of this kingdom are kind and steadfast and generous and brave. And America is fortunate to call this country our closest friend in the world."

Mr Bush vowed that the coalition would not turn away from Iraq in the face of threats from "a band of thugs and assassins".

He also reaffirmed his pledge to work towards a viable Palestinian state amid security for Israel.

And he called for a "democratic revolution" in the Middle East.


Protest plans

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.

Peace campaigners are attempting to demonstrate their opposition to Mr Bush's visit 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.

Mr Bush is due to meet British families of those who died in the 11 September attacks in New York.

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.


PRESIDENT BUSH'S ITINERARY

Wednesday 19 November - Gives Banqueting House speech on transatlantic alliance, meets UK families of 11 Sept victims, meets Michael Howard and Charles Kennedy before attending royal banquet with Queen

Thursday 20 November - Meets British soldiers who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq, holds meetings with Tony Blair at Downing Street and hosts dinner at US Ambassador's residence

Friday 21 November - Travels to Tony Blair's Sedgefield constituency to meet members of the public before returning to Washington

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Key points: Bush's speech

Here are the key points from President George Bush's keynote speech in London on the first day of his state visit.
Three pillars of peace and security


International institutions: "Like 11 presidents before me I believe in international institutions... they must be alert to the dangers facing our world... from lifting up failing states to opposing proliferation... (but) it's not enough to meet the dangers of the world with resolutions."

Willingness to use force as last resort: "Those in authority are not judged only by good motivation. The people have given us the duty to defend them. That duty sometimes requires the violent restraint of violent men. In some cases the measured use of force is all that protect us from a chaotic world ruled by force."

The expansion of democracy: "The third pillar is our commitment to the global expansion of democracy" as an alternative to "instability and hatred and terror"...It was "condescending" to see democracy and Islam as incompatible

Iraq


The US honoured the sacrifice of British troops in Iraq.

Mr Bush contrasted the rise of international terrorism with the rise of Hitler's Germany
He said: "Free nations failed to recognise, much less confront, the aggressive evil in plain sight."


Mr Bush highlighted some of the changes in Iraq since the invasion including a burgeoning media and school textbooks free of propaganda.

He said the failure of democracy in Iraq would throw the country back into chaos.

Force against Iraq had only followed after diplomatic attempts had failed.

Mr Bush said that the people of Iraq had rejoiced at the fall of Saddam Hussein.

The US president said that sometimes the measured use of force became necessary, such as in the Balkans and in Afghanistan.
"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".


He said the reconstruction of Iraq was happening at a quicker pace than in Germany and Japan after World War Two.

United Nations and Nato


Nato and the European Union had to work together in order to thwart future dangers.

Mr Bush said Nato was the "most successful multilateral organisation in history".

Mr Bush said the global demands of terror required a global response - that required the UN to be credible.

Mr Bush said it was not enough to meet the dangers of the world with resolutions - they must be met with resolve.

Mr Bush acknowledged the "principled objections" of some to the use of force but people in authority were not just judged by their good motives.
Middle East


Decades of failed Western policy in the Middle East must now be abandoned.

"Your nation and mine in the past have been too willing to make a bargain, to tolerate oppression for the sake of stability."

"This bargain did not bring stability or make us safe. It merely bought time while problems festered and ideologies of violence took hold."

Mr Bush said that by extending trade, prosperity would spread and with it freedom would flourish.

The universal appeal of freedom was one of the weapons in the fight against international terrorism.

Mr Bush said that he wanted a viable Palestinian state and security for Israel.

By resolving that issue a major excuse for hatred and resentment in the Middle East would be removed, said Mr Bush.

The Palestinian people deserved real leaders who were capable of bringing about a Palestinian state.

Israel should dismantle unauthorised outposts and stop the daily humiliation of the Palestinian people.

All leaders should strongly oppose anti-Semitism which poisoned hopes for progress in the Middle East.

"The stakes in that region could not be higher. If the Middle East remains a place where freedom doesn't flourish, it will remain a place of stagnation and anger and violence for export."

"As we saw in the ruins of two towers, no distance on the map will protect our lives and our way of life."

British-American Relations


President George Bush said he was honoured to be in the United Kingdom and said he brought the good wishes of the American people.


The US president joked that demonstrations to mark his visit showed freedom of speech was alive in London.

Mr Bush said the UK and US had an "alliance of values".

The UK and US shared a mission in advancing freedom and the peace that came with it.

Mr Bush said the US had always found good allies in London and he said Tony Blair had his "respect and deepest thanks".


The US was fortunate to call the United Kingdom its closest ally in the world.