BRITAIN:BRITISH PRIME Minister Gordon Brown announced more troops for Afghanistan yesterday while President George W. Bush insisted Britain and America were at one over the withdrawal of allied forces from Iraq as and when conditions there allow.
Both leaders were speaking on the second day of Mr Bush's short visit to the United Kingdom, which Mr Brown said had allowed them to celebrate the "special partnership" between their two countries "driven forward not simply by mutual interests but shared values" of liberty, democracy and opportunity for all.
In a glowing tribute Mr Brown also thanked Mr Bush for being "a true friend of Britain" and "for the steadfastness and resolution he has shown in rooting out terrorism in all parts of the world".
As the bodies of five members of the Parachute Regiment killed in Helmand province were flown back to Britain, Mr Brown paid tribute to their bravery while announcing "a reconfiguration" of commitments that would take the British deployment in Afghanistan to its highest level yet.
Speaking at a press conference in Downing Street after talks with Mr Bush on a range of issues, Mr Brown said: "We have resolved, as we did some years ago, that it is in the British national interest to confront the Taliban in Afghanistan or the Taliban would come to us. And so today Britain will announce additional troops for Afghanistan, bringing our numbers there to the highest level."
Mr Bush welcomed Mr Brown's announcement as well as his call for tougher sanctions against Iran. "The first thing about Gordon Brown, he is tough on terrorism," said Mr Bush: "And I appreciate it. So should the British people….. You have been strong on Afghanistan and Iraq and I appreciate that. But more importantly, the people of Afghanistan and Iraq appreciate it."
Mr Brown was asked if he would prefer to withdraw British troops from Iraq in order to send them to Afghanistan, where they were needed more - and if he was restrained from doing so because Mr Bush would not like the "symbolism" of such a move.
But Mr Brown insisted there was "still work to be done" in Iraq, while Mr Bush shrugged off "typical" press speculation about possible "distance" between the American and British positions. "He's left more troops in Iraq than he initially anticipated."
Mr Bush said "the plan" was to bring American and British troops home "based on success". As Mr Brown affirmed there could be "no artificial deadline" for British withdrawal, Mr Bush said: "I have no problem with Gordon Brown. He's been a great partner. As I told you, we're bringing our troops home too."
On Iran, Mr Brown said there was no need of a "path of confrontation" with the West and said Britain would do everything possible to maintain dialogue with Tehran. However, he said: "If Iran continues to ignore resolutions, to ignore our offers of partnership, we have no choice but to intensify sanctions. I will repeat that we will take any necessary action so that Iran is aware of the choice it has to make to start to play its part as a full and respected member of the international community - or face further isolation."