[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 47 (Monday, November 24, 2003)]
[Pages 1667-1669]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks With Prime Minister Blair at Sedgefield Community College and an 
Exchange With Reporters in Sedgefield

November 21, 2003

    Prime Minister Blair. I'd just like to say, first of all, how 
delighted we both are to be at Sedgefield School here, and how wonderful 
the welcome has been from all the teachers and pupils, and what a 
magnificent job of work they do here. I also want to express my real 
pride that the President of the United States of America is here in my 
constituency and in the northeast of England. And everyone is really 
thrilled to see him here and delighted at the honor his presence here 
does us.
    The last 2 or 3 days have been an interesting time, I think, to 
reflect. It's been a time when--with some fairly tragic things going on 
in the world. It's been an opportunity for us to reflect and know that 
amongst the tragedy, the alliance between Great Britain--between the 
United States of America is an alliance that is strong and enduring, of 
immense importance to our two countries. And we've got to continue that 
alliance now.
    And these terrible attacks that happen, the terrorism that we see, 
the destruction, the intent to take innocent life that we see around us 
in our world today should make us just all the more determined to do 
what we need to do to restore order and justice, to bring peace and 
freedom and democracy to people all over the world.
    It's been a fantastic opportunity these last few days just to--as I 
say, to think about this relationship between Britain and the United 
States, to reflect on its history, to assess the strength of it today, 
and to use that strength for a better future for our two countries but 
also for the wider world.
    Mr. President, George, you and the First Lady, Laura, have been 
really welcome here in the northeast. And as I say, it's been a 
fantastic day for people here, and we can't tell you how delighted we 
are to see you.
    President Bush. Mr. Prime Minister, it's been a great trip. Thanks 
for the invitation. Thanks for the hospitality. You and Her Majesty The 
Queen have made this a special part of our life. And it's really good to 
be in your own constituency. It's clear they love you up here, which is 
always a good sign. [Laughter]
    We--being with the school--the schoolkids here reminds us of our 
solemn responsibility to protect our people and to create the conditions 
necessary for peace to prevail when they become older. That's our 
biggest job, and yesterday's attack in Turkey reminded us that we hadn't 
completed our job yet.
    You know, as the Prime Minister so eloquently said yesterday, the 
terrorists are trying to intimidate the free world. And this man will 
not be intimidated, and neither will I. But more importantly, the people 
of Great Britain won't be intimidated, and neither will the people of 
America. And working together, we will make the world safer and freer 
for boys and girls all across the world, starting with these right here.
    And so, Mr. Prime Minister, it's been a fantastic trip, and we're so 
thrilled to have been here. Thank you for your wonderful hospitality. 
And we look forward to--I look

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forward to our weekly phone calls to stay on the offensive against the 
enemy. Thank you.
    I've already answered your questions, but if you've got another 
one----

The West's Response to Terrorism

    Q. Sure, if I may. In light of the tragedy of these terrorist 
attacks, have your--the leaders from either Germany or France, do you 
find there are any indications that they're more empathetic or 
sympathetic to your cause? Do you feel as if there might be more aid or 
troops or even a stronger political alliance with those who have not 
agreed with you?
    Prime Minister Blair. I think the important thing is that when these 
terrible terrorist attacks occur, there's one of two responses. People 
can respond either by being intimidated by it, by feeling, ``Let's 
reduce our profile in this struggle.'' That's one response. Or people 
can respond by saying, ``When we're under attack, we defend ourselves, 
and we go out and fight with renewed strength and determination for what 
we believe in.''
    Because when you look at what we're trying to do and trying to make 
sure that the world--it's not just about security; it's actually about 
recognizing that a world that is more free and stable and prosperous is 
a world that is more secure. When you recognize that that's what we're 
trying to do, and these people are trying by these appalling acts of 
terrorism against wholly innocent people, trying to prevent that world 
happening, then I think the response from everyone is very clear.
    And I believe and hope that that is true, not just in Britain but 
all over Europe. Because, after all, what did we learn in Europe in our 
history, in the history that we share with the United States of America? 
And that is, when freedom is threatened in Europe, we have to fight. And 
the reason why you have a European Union today and we have democracy and 
stability and freedom in Europe is because in the face of attacks upon 
that freedom, we, with our allies, the United States, defended that 
freedom.
    And so I'm sure that people in other countries in Europe will feel 
the same way about that. And I think you saw from the reaction, for 
example, in Italy, when that terrible act of terrorism killed Italian 
citizens who were over in Iraq trying to make that country better, I 
think you could see by that reaction from people in Italy that I think 
there is an instinctive knowledge that when you're attacked by people, 
by these wicked acts, there is only one response that is possible to 
make, and that is to get out there and be absolutely up front and say, 
``We are not tolerating this. We're going to fight back.''

Germany's Contribution in Afghanistan

    Q. Chancellor Schroeder has said that it's nice that we're going to 
speed up the timetable for handing over power to the Iraqi people, but 
he's still not going to contribute troops or any more money. Is that a 
disappointment?
    President Bush. Chancellor Schroeder is committing troops to 
Afghanistan. And it is very helpful for our coalition. Afghanistan is--
obviously been a--is a recently liberated country from a barbaric 
regime. And Chancellor Schroeder understands that it is essential that 
Afghanistan be free and democratic and peaceful. And I thank him for his 
significant and strong contribution.

U.K.-U.S. Alliance

    Q. Mr. Prime Minister, you've talked a lot about the alliance 
between the two countries. A lot of your critics this week have said 
that Britain is not getting enough out of this alliance. What do you say 
to that? And do you feel that you've accomplished a lot this week for 
Britain?
    Prime Minister Blair. What I say to that is that people sometimes 
talk about this alliance between Britain and the United States of 
America as if it were some schoolcard. It isn't. It's an alliance of 
values. It's an alliance of common interests. It's an alliance of common 
convictions and beliefs. And the reason why we are standing side by side 
with America is not because we feel forced to; it is because we want to, 
because we believe that is the right place to be.
    And as I was saying to you--I was discussing this with--last night 
and was just reflecting, when September the 11th happened, remember--
obviously many, many American citizens lost their lives--this was

[[Page 1669]]

the worst terrorist attack against British citizens. We're in this 
together. And we didn't--Britain didn't go off and attack Al Qaida. We 
didn't start a war against these people. They came to us. And if you 
look right around the world at the moment, there are something like 
nationals from 60 different nations in the world who have lost citizens 
in these terrorist attacks. And it doesn't matter whether you're up 
front or at the back, whether you're people who have got big profile on 
this or a low profile. These people aren't interested in that. This is a 
fundamental struggle.
    And so the reason we have this alliance with the United States, the 
reason I'm proud to have the President here, the reason why I believe 
the vast majority of my country is proud of the alliance with the United 
States, is not because there's some payback that's going to be given to 
us. It's not about that. It's about knowing that this is a struggle in 
which we're both engaged, just as in my father's generation--they knew 
there was a struggle in which we both had to be engaged. And thank 
goodness both of us were, because that's the reason we're standing in a 
free country today.
    President Bush. Listen, thank you. One comment on that. This leader 
and this country are willing to take on hard tasks in the name of 
freedom and peace, and so is America. And by working together, we will 
be able to accomplish a lot in these hard things.
    As I said in my comments, that we are fortunate to have friends--I'm 
fortunate to have a friend like Tony Blair. America is fortunate to have 
friends like the people of Great Britain, because the people of Great 
Britain have got grit and strength and determination and are willing to 
take on a challenge. And we're being challenged. We're challenged by 
killers, cold-blooded killers. And we're going to prevail. And we're 
more likely to prevail working together, and that's the importance of 
the relationship.
    Listen, thank you all. It's been a wonderful time being here in this 
great country.

Note: The President spoke at approximately 2:56 p.m. In his remarks, he 
referred to Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom; and Chancellor 
Gerhard Schroeder of Germany. A tape was not available for verification 
of the content of these remarks.