Tony Blair and the US president, George Bush, issued a joint call today for greater Nato involvement in Iraq.
Mr Bush said the two leaders would work with their alliance partners to try to achieve greater participation in maintaining security in the country.
At present, Nato - which has been involved in peacekeeping and stabilisation work from the Balkans to Afghanistan - provides only minimal logistic support for troops in Iraq. The US-led military operations are carried out principally by US and British forces.
The two leaders' comments came after 45 minutes of private talks at the G8 summit on Sea Island, near Savannah, Georgia.
"We discussed Nato involvement over breakfast and we believe Nato ought to be involved," Mr Bush told reporters. "We will work with our Nato friends to at least continue the role that now exists and hopefully extend it somewhat. A lot of Nato countries are not in the position to commit many more troops. We fully understand that," he added.
Mr Blair expressed his agreement.
"I think that's right. The important next step in this is going to be for the new Iraqi government to sit down with the multi-national force and work out how, over time, the Iraqi capability for security can be established.
"I think the one thing that's interesting when you talk to the Iraqi prime minister and the new Iraqi government is that they do see the possibility of a democratic Iraq being a force for good in their region. This is a process of change and we have got to help people manage it.
"Sensible people sitting down and looking at the Middle East know there needs to be a process of reform and change. It's not for us to dictate it, but it is for us to help."
Mr Bush praised Mr Blair's "leadership" on Iraq as the issue continued to overshadow the gathering of world leaders. He turned to Mr Blair and told him: "Thank you very much for your steadfast leadership, clear vision and your friendship."
The Prime Minister returned the compliment.
"Thank you for your help and support in getting the resolution through," he said.
"The crucial thing now is that the people of Iraq know they have got the whole of the international community on side for Iraq as a stable and peaceful country and the terrorists know they have got the whole of the world against them, and that's the key," Mr Blair added.
The two leaders are also due to meet the new Iraqi president, Ghazi al-Yawar, later today at the summit of the world's leading industrialised democracies - the US, UK, Russia, Japan, Canada, France, Italy and Germany.
"I'm going to tell him we are pulling for him and pulling for the people of Iraq, particularly those who have a deep desire to live in a free society. I'm going to thank him for having the courage to stand up and lead. When we say transfer of full sovereignty, we mean transfer of full sovereignty. He is the president of a sovereign nation," Mr Bush said.
The leaders gathered in Georgia will also discuss wider Middle East issues today, but Iraq clearly continued to dominate the first full day of the summit.
Bush and Blair’s new “can we have some of your troops please” stance certainly makes an interesting contrast to the previous “fuck off you cheese eating bastards we don’t need you anyway” position.
That may have changed but it’s nice to see that Bush and Blair remain steadfast in their policy of making embarrassing public declarations of affection for each other at every opportunity.
And Mr. Chirac immediately said a very stern Non to Nato in Iraq.
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That may have changed but it’s nice to see that Bush and Blair remain steadfast in their policy of making embarrassing public declarations of affection for each other at every opportunity.
I tell you, little Johnny Howard is going to be very jelous at this development.
Via money Europe could become political in five years" "... the current communities should be completed by a Finance Common Market which would lead us to European economic unity. Only then would ... the mutual commitments make it fairly easy to produce the political union which is the goal"
That may have changed but it’s nice to see that Bush and Blair remain steadfast in their policy of making embarrassing public declarations of affection for each other at every opportunity.
I tell you, little Johnny Howard is going to be very jelous at this development.
No he was there too, but his head was shoved so far up Bush's ass, no one noticed.
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This is News? IIRC, he's been grovelling for NATO support since after we blitzkrieged our way to Baghdad. Stupid fucking shitlicker. I hate that guy. Goddamned dumbass fuckface spoogelauncher. Because of him, most of the world thinks we're a bunch of poorly-spoken reprobates with Chevy trucks and cases of budweiser every day. I honestly don't see how anny world leader can look at himself in the mirror and say "I support bush, he is a smart man and a great leader."
Chardok wrote:I honestly don't see how anny world leader can look at himself in the mirror and say "I support bush, he is a smart man and a great leader."
Can you see them saying "I support bush, he is an idiot but my country needs the United States as an ally for a brighter future"
Dahak wrote:And Mr. Chirac immediately said a very stern Non to Nato in Iraq.
France isn't really a NATO member. We protect them, but they don't contribute troops and they're not on the council. France only likes to pound on defenseless African countries.
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Dahak wrote:And Mr. Chirac immediately said a very stern Non to Nato in Iraq.
snip. They just use the Alliance when it suits them.
Sounds similer to the USA
Via money Europe could become political in five years" "... the current communities should be completed by a Finance Common Market which would lead us to European economic unity. Only then would ... the mutual commitments make it fairly easy to produce the political union which is the goal"
