    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [October 10, 2001]
    [Pages 1214-1215]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1214]]

    Remarks Following Discussions With Secretary General Lord Robertson of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
    October 10, 2001

        The President. Lord Robertson, thank you very much for coming. I
    appreciate your friendship, and I appreciate the consultations we just
    had.
        I want to welcome Nick Burns, our
    Ambassador to NATO, and of course, Secretary of State Colin
    Powell, as well.
        Within 28 hours of the assault on September 11th, NATO, for the
    first time in its 52 years of existence, invoked the collective defense
    clause. It didn't take long for our friends to respond. A lot of that
    had to do with the leadership of Lord Robertson. This was an act of
    great friendship in a time of great need, and our country will never
    forget.
        Today, NATO nations are acting together in a broad campaign against
    terror. Britain is side by side with us in Afghanistan. The nations of
    NATO are sharing intelligence, coordinating law enforcement, and
    cracking down on the financing of terrorist organizations. Some NATO
    members will provide logistic support to military operations, and others
    have offered to fight if we deem necessary.
        And right now, in a unprecedented display of friendship, NATO air
    surveillance aircraft are on their way to the United States to help keep
    our country safe. Lord Robertson, I want to thank you for that as well,
    and so do the American people. This has never happened before, that NATO
    has come to help defend our country. But it happened in this time of
    need, and for that, we're grateful.
        Together, we're building a very strong coalition against terror, and
    NATO is the cornerstone of that coalition. But I want to remind my
    fellow citizens, the coalition goes way beyond NATO.
        Russia is sharing intelligence and offering strong diplomatic
    support. The Organization of American States invoked the collective
    defense clause of the Rio Treaty. Japan and Korea are offering
    logistical and other support. I had a great conversation with Jiang
    Zemin of China about his desire to join us in
    fighting terrorist activities.
        Military forces from Australia and New Zealand are standing by to
    assist in combat roles if needed. In Africa, the Organization of African
    Unity has moved quickly and strongly to condemn the attacks, and many
    are offering basic services, such as overflight and the sharing of
    intelligence. In the Middle East, many nations, including Jordan, Egypt,
    and Saudi Arabia, are offering law enforcement, intelligence, and other
    cooperation.
        In short, many nations understand what NATO expressed, that an
    attack on us is really an attack on legitimate governments and on
    freedom.
        I want to welcome, again, our friend to the Rose Garden. Lord
    Robertson has provided extraordinary leadership for an incredibly
    important alliance. He's a good Scotsman, like many Americans are. He
    could have been a Texan, it seems like to me, because he is courageous,
    open, forthright, and not afraid to take a stand and to do what's right
    for freedom.
        Lord Robertson, welcome to the Rose Garden.
        Secretary General Lord Robertson. Mr. President, thank you for these
    kind and generous words. I'll take them back to the headquarters of the
    North Atlantic Treaty Organization, because that is the organization
    that you're part of, we're part of, and which has stood in solidarity
    over all of these years.
        I want to pay a tribute to your leadership during this difficult
    time for your country, in this difficult time for the world, as well. We
    stand shoulder to shoulder in a new

    [[Page 1215]]

    kind of struggle, and a struggle that we have to win.
        The NATO Allies, in the wake of the terrible atrocities of the 11th
    of September, wanted to move beyond sadness and sympathy, and we moved
    to solidarity and support. And that is why we invoked Article 5 of the
    Washington Treaty, conceived here in Washington in 1949 in very
    difficult circumstances and where the language is clear and simple: An
    attack on one is an attack on all of the nations of the Alliance.
        NATO still represents the biggest permanent coalition on this
    planet: 19 nations in the Alliance, 27 nations in addition in the
    Partnership For Peace and part of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council.
    And NATO is providing now, as you said, serious and strong practical
    support to the United States and the U.S.-led coalition operations that
    are going on in the world today: a unique contribution, political
    cohesion through Article 5; real capabilities, like the AWACS aircraft
    that will be flying over continental United States by Friday of this
    week; the tying-in of the partners and the partnership, military
    interoperability that worked so well for the coalition in the Gulf war;
    and a new look at the adaptation of forces so that we're ready to deal
    with the threats of the future, just as we were able to deal with the
    enemies of the past.
        So the Alliance will continue to combine the best of America and
    Europe at this difficult and troubled time.
        These terrorists are not 10 feet tall; they are not insuperable;
    they're not unvanquishable. But we are, and we can win, and we certainly
    will win. And I'm very, very proud that NATO and the 19 nations of the
    Alliance are at the heart of a global coalition against the most evil
    criminals of our age.
        I'm very proud, Mr. President, that you thought fit to describe me
    as a candidate for being a Texan. [Laughter] Given my background, I know
    that you've been in Scotland before, and I haven't been in Texas, but
    I'll take it as a compliment. And I believe that you could be a Scotsman
    as well--[laughter]--like the great Scotsmen who made this great country
    as well and who, at the moment, happen to be leading this Alliance. And
    this Scotsman, in particular, is proud to be doing it and is determined
    that we'll win.
        Thank you very much.
        The President. Thank you, sir. God bless you. Thank you for coming.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:51 p.m. in the Colonnade at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to President Jiang Zemin of China.