[NYTr] World "owes US a debt," says Brown

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

sent by Riaz K. Tayob (activ-l)

[Warmongers and nouveau colonialists unite... -RT]

BBC News - Jul 30, 2007
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6920877.stm


World owes US a debt, says Brown

*The world owes a debt to the United States for its leadership in the 
fight against international terrorism, Gordon Brown has said. *

The prime minister described the link with the US as the UK's "most 
important bilateral relationship" ahead of his first talks with 
President George Bush.

A foreign office minister had suggested the two countries would no 
longer be "joined at the hip" on foreign policy.

Mr Brown arrived at Andrews air force base near Washington on Sunday
night.

International issues

The talks at Camp David on Monday are expected to include UK Foreign 
Secretary David Milliband and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

"The Americans are likely to seek reassurances about Gordon
Brown's plans for the country that dare not be mentioned." -BBC
political editor Nick Robinson

They are expected to discuss international issues such as Iraq, 
Afghanistan, the Middle East, Darfur, Kosovo, world trade and climate 
change.

Analysts will be looking for signs of the Brown regime distancing
itself from the US during the trip.

Private dinner

BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Brown was "walking a 
tightrope" in his dealings with America.

He needed to reassure Mr Bush of his commitment to the Atlantic 
relationship as well as convince British voters that links between the 
US and the UK would be different to those maintained by former prime 
minister Tony Blair, our correspondent said.

The prime minister flew to Camp David for a private dinner with the 
president on Sunday night at his Maryland retreat.

He will then head to Washington on Monday for cross-party talks with 
senate leaders and members of congress.

Earlier this month, Foreign Office Minister Lord Malloch Brown said it 
was time for a more "impartial" foreign policy and for Britain to build 
relationships with European leaders.

"We should acknowledge the debt the world owes to the United States for
its leadership in this fight against international terrorism." -Gordon
Brown

But en route to the US, Mr Brown described himself as an "Atlanticist 
and a great admirer of the American sprit".

"As prime minister I want to do more to strengthen even further our 
relationship with the US," he said.

"It is firmly in the British national interest that we have a strong 
relationship with the US, our single most important bilateral 
relationship."

Mr Brown said the shared ideals of two centuries of history "have
linked the destinies" of the two countries.

He also quoted Winston Churchill - the first British prime minister to 
visit Camp David - who also spoke of a "joint inheritance".

This close relationship would help in the fight against nuclear 
proliferation, global poverty, climate change and global terrorism, Mr 
Brown said.

"And we should acknowledge the debt the world owes to the United States 
for its leadership in this fight against international terrorism," he 
added.

Tony Blair enjoyed a close relationship with Mr Bush but there has been 
speculation that Mr Brown wants to keep his distance from the president.

The shadow foreign secretary, William Hague, told the BBC the prime 
minister and foreign secretary needed to set a clear stance.

He said: "They should not be leaving it to more junior ministers to 
create misunderstandings about the relationship with America, which is 
what has happened over the last few weeks.

"Our approach, the approach David Cameron and I take, is that our 
relationship with America should be what we call solid but not slavish 
and it should gain frankness without losing its closeness."

'Candid friend'

Liberal Democrat leader Menzies Campbell said three main issues should 
be discussed at the meeting.

"Renegotiation of the one-sided extradition treaty, the closure of the 
Guantanamo Bay detention centre and a negotiated withdrawal of British 
forces from Iraq," he said.

"These should be the objectives of a candid friend. The excessively 
subordinated relationship between the president and Mr Blair should be 
put to bed."

Speaking in the US, International Development Secretary Douglas 
Alexander emphasised the need for "new alliances, based on common
values".

) BBC MMVII