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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT . . . Eight European Leaders Are As One With President Bush
Republican National Committee ^ | 30 January 2003 | European Leaders

Posted on 01/30/2003 10:09:40 AM PST by PhiKapMom

RNC Research Briefing
30 January 2003
From The Wall Street Journal

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT . . .

United We Stand

Eight European Leaders Are As One With President Bush.

Thursday, January 30, 2003

(Editor's note: This article is written by Jose María Aznar, Jose-Manuel Durão Barroso, Silvio Berlusconi, Tony Blair, Vaclav Havel, Peter Medgyessy, Leszek Miller and Anders Fogh Rasmussen.)

The real bond between the U.S. and Europe is the values we share: democracy, individual freedom, human rights and the rule of law. These values crossed the Atlantic with those who sailed from Europe to help create the United States of America. Today they are under greater threat than ever.

The attacks of Sept. 11 showed just how far terrorists--the enemies of our common values--are prepared to go to destroy them. Those outrages were an attack on all of us. In standing firm in defense of these principles, the governments and people of the U.S. and Europe have amply demonstrated the strength of their convictions. Today more than ever, the trans-Atlantic bond is a guarantee of our freedom.

We in Europe have a relationship with the U.S. which has stood the test of time. Thanks in large part to American bravery, generosity and farsightedness, Europe was set free from the two forms of tyranny that devastated our continent in the 20th century: Nazism and communism. Thanks, too, to the continued cooperation between Europe and the U.S. we have managed to guarantee peace and freedom on our continent. The trans-Atlantic relationship must not become a casualty of the current Iraqi regime's persistent attempts to threaten world security.

In today's world, more than ever before, it is vital that we preserve that unity and cohesion. We know that success in the day-to-day battle against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction demands unwavering determination and firm international cohesion on the part of all countries for whom freedom is precious.

The Iraqi regime and its weapons of mass destruction represent a clear threat to world security. This danger has been explicitly recognized by the U.N. All of us are bound by Security Council Resolution 1441, which was adopted unanimously. We Europeans have since reiterated our backing for Resolution 1441, our wish to pursue the U.N. route, and our support for the Security Council at the Prague NATO Summit and the Copenhagen European Council.

In doing so, we sent a clear, firm and unequivocal message that we would rid the world of the danger posed by Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction. We must remain united in insisting that his regime be disarmed. The solidarity, cohesion and determination of the international community are our best hope of achieving this peacefully. Our strength lies in unity.

The combination of weapons of mass destruction and terrorism is a threat of incalculable consequences. It is one at which all of us should feel concerned. Resolution 1441 is Saddam Hussein's last chance to disarm using peaceful means. The opportunity to avoid greater confrontation rests with him. Sadly this week the U.N. weapons inspectors have confirmed that his long-established pattern of deception, denial and noncompliance with U.N. Security Council resolutions is continuing.

Europe has no quarrel with the Iraqi people. Indeed, they are the first victims of Iraq's current brutal regime. Our goal is to safeguard world peace and security by ensuring that this regime gives up its weapons of mass destruction. Our governments have a common responsibility to face this threat. Failure to do so would be nothing less than negligent to our own citizens and to the wider world.

The U.N. Charter charges the Security Council with the task of preserving international peace and security. To do so, the Security Council must maintain its credibility by ensuring full compliance with its resolutions. We cannot allow a dictator to systematically violate those resolutions. If they are not complied with, the Security Council will lose its credibility and world peace will suffer as a result. We are confident that the Security Council will face up to its responsibilities.

Messrs. Aznar, Durão Barroso, Berlusconi, Blair, Medgyessy, Miller and Fogh Rasmussen are, respectively, the prime ministers of Spain, Portugal, Italy, the U.K., Hungary, Poland and Denmark. Mr. Havel is the Czech president.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News
KEYWORDS: europe; iraq; support
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To: PhiKapMom
Thanks. Feel free to copy it to your hard disk and use it. That's what I painted it for!
21 posted on 01/30/2003 11:42:08 AM PST by B-Chan (Make no mistake: Evil exists, and MUST be resisted.)
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To: Quilla
Thanks! Didn't realize that about the French. The first part of the speech made me lose focus when I was listening and missed a lot of the red meat.

What is with the World press corps? They sure don't seem to be on the side of Freedom and I wonder why?
22 posted on 01/30/2003 11:44:13 AM PST by PhiKapMom (Bush/Cheney 2004)
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To: PhiKapMom
GWB Is The Man!

Be Well - Be Armed - Be Safe - Molon Labe!
23 posted on 01/30/2003 1:59:10 PM PST by blackie
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To: PhiKapMom
I've written my letter to the editor already! I'll let you know if it is printed.
24 posted on 01/30/2003 2:54:28 PM PST by Wphile (The dems make me SICK!)
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To: All
WHO has joined the AXIS OF FREEDOM?

THESE ARE the 17 ALLIES for IRAQI FREEDOM

U.S., Britian, Hungarian, Bulgarian, Romanian, Polish, Italy, Portugal,

Slovakia, Denmark, Czech, Spanish, Quatar, Kuwaiti, Israeli, Australian and Japanese

FREE the IRAQI people!!!

UK JAPAN
AUSTRALIA BULGARIA What OTHER country wants the IRAQI citizens FREEDOM?
ROMANIA ISRAEL POLAND
SPAIN CZECH PORTUGAL
KUWAIT HUNGARY QATAR
ITALY DENMARK SLOVAKIA

25 posted on 01/30/2003 3:19:43 PM PST by goodnesswins (Thank the Military for your freedom and security....and thank a Rich person for jobs.)
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To: PhiKapMom
And the best of all...

Guess where the Big Eight posted their letter?

Not in the Maureen Dowd NYT but the WSJ!

hehehehehehehe........
26 posted on 01/30/2003 3:30:02 PM PST by TRY ONE (")
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To: PhiKapMom
Yes indeed:

Europe and America must stand united - the original letter.

Eight leaders rally 'new' Europe to America's side

Europe split as leaders back US on Iraq

Regards, Ivan

27 posted on 01/30/2003 3:30:59 PM PST by MadIvan
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To: Wphile
Let us know on the letter!
28 posted on 01/30/2003 3:36:19 PM PST by PhiKapMom (Bush/Cheney 2004)
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To: MadIvan
Absolutely we must stand together! Thought this letter on the op ed page was fantastic! Am truly impressed with the leadership of PM Blair and the others!
29 posted on 01/30/2003 3:37:39 PM PST by PhiKapMom (Bush/Cheney 2004)
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To: TRY ONE
Wondered if anyone was going to mention that fact -- the NY Times left out in the cold! Couldn't happen to a better paper!
30 posted on 01/30/2003 3:38:19 PM PST by PhiKapMom (Bush/Cheney 2004)
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To: PhiKapMom
It appears that Europe is breaking apart - there is one pro-American bloc, and the other, which is the Weasel bloc.

That's fine, as it injects a note of reality into our relationship with the French and Germans.

Regards, Ivan

31 posted on 01/30/2003 3:40:18 PM PST by MadIvan
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To: PhiKapMom
Please disseminate this to let people know the United States does not go this alone as the press keeps reporting!

Have done so! This was such a JOY to read!

32 posted on 01/30/2003 3:47:22 PM PST by Right_in_Virginia
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To: MadIvan
My Dad was in England during WWII and he loved England. I have relatives in Essex from a marriage of my cousin and one of these days I am going to make that trip across the Ocean to visit them like they have visited our Family.

My Dad's Mom was full French but my Dad detested the French when he was in their Country during the war. He always said never to trust the French and I have never forgotten that!



33 posted on 01/30/2003 3:48:12 PM PST by PhiKapMom (Bush/Cheney 2004)
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To: Right_in_Virginia
Will be interesting to see how many news organizations cover this. Some of the women even on Fox today were still using the term -- going it alone -- it is mind boggling to me since the Brits have been onboard since day one and we have a lot of other countries in Europe witnessed by this letter!
34 posted on 01/30/2003 3:50:44 PM PST by PhiKapMom (Bush/Cheney 2004)
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To: PhiKapMom
I just caught the end of Brit Hume's show (the part with the panel). And Mort Kondracke (sp) was VERY clear that this "going it alone" is now positively stupid.

Mara did her best to challenge him, because this means there's a split in Europe (like we care)...but even she had to admit we won't be alone.

It was also mentioned (I think by Brit) that Jordan (JORDAN!) has given the US permission to use it's territory for rescue missions and possibly to launch troops.

Thanks for your pings...they're very helpful!

35 posted on 01/30/2003 4:18:03 PM PST by Right_in_Virginia (May God bless our President and our troops)
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To: Right_in_Virginia
I saw this morning that Jordan was on board and then this afternoon Albania was also with us. Everytime I see the name of the Country Albania, I cannot help but think of Wag the Dog, but it is nice to know they are also with us.

Then I see that 11 of the 15 Security Council members are not on board so that tells me that this could make the UN become totally irrelevant!
36 posted on 01/30/2003 5:03:07 PM PST by PhiKapMom (Bush/Cheney 2004)
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To: PhiKapMom
bump
37 posted on 01/30/2003 5:04:57 PM PST by Dubya (JESUS SAVES)
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To: PhiKapMom

USA's Proud and Resolute Allies
are Standing With Us.

38 posted on 01/30/2003 7:38:32 PM PST by harpo11 (I Proudly Stand With My President and America's Brave Troops--God Bless)
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To: PhiKapMom
In 1956 I was very sad I could not Molotov cocktail the Soviet tanks, being nine.

Now they are with us in this crucial hour.

Better a bobcat with us than a pair of weasels.

Always remember: the French betrayed Ethiopia to Mussolini's Fascists and collaborated with Hitler's Third Reich;

The Germans are conducting twice as many dual-use deals with Iraq than the rest of the world combined.

A coalition of the willing = a coalition of the brave.

39 posted on 01/30/2003 8:43:15 PM PST by PhilDragoo
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