Best Regards, Ivan
LET US GO FORWARD TOGETHER
Posted on 09/12/2001 1:56:28 AM PDT by MadIvan
BRITAIN will stand "shoulder to shoulder" with America in seeking to find and punish the perpetrators of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon, Tony Blair vowed last night.
In a tense and emotional statement from 10 Downing Street, a clearly shocked Mr Blair said mass terrorism was the "new evil in our world". He said there were no adequate words of condemnation for those responsible for the "barbarism".
"The people who perpetrated it have no regard whatever for the sanctity or value of human life." After chairing an emergency meeting of the Cabinet's Civil Contingencies Committee, known as Cobra, Mr Blair announced tighter security measures in Britain, including a ban on civil planes flying over London.
The Prime Minister rushed back to London yesterday afternoon to take charge of the Government's response, cancelling his planned speech to the TUC conference in Brighton.
The senior Cabinet ministers were summoned to No 10 to prepare contingency plans against similar terrorist attacks against prominent public buildings in Britain and overseas.
Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, and Adml Sir Michael Boyce, Chief of Defence Staff, attended the emergency Cabinet meeting. Gordon Brown, the Chancellor, was also present.
After the Cabinet meeting, Mr Blair, who saw the television pictures of the second aircraft crashing into the World Trade Centre while in his hotel room in Brighton, said it was not a battle between America and terrorism, but between the free and democratic world and terrorism.
He said: "We therefore here in Britain stand shoulder to shoulder with our American friends in this hour of tragedy and we, like them, will not rest until this evil is driven from our world."
Mr Blair said ministers had ordered immediate measures to limit the risk of similar attacks on British targets. Security would be stepped up at every level across the country.
No flights would leave Britain unless maximum security could be guaranteed. Aircraft would no longer be allowed to cross central London and private flights would be permitted only with special authorisation.
Earlier, Mr Straw said the world had watched the television pictures from America with "absolute horror". He said: "We in Britain have offered whatever help we can to the American government to bring the perpetrators to justice and I have passed my condolences to the US Secretary of State, Colin Powell."
Downing Street officials said the Prime Minister had spoken to Chancellor Gerhard Schroder of Germany and President Jacques Chirac of France about the tragedy and planned to speak to President Bush at the earliest opportunity.
His decision to offer Britain's full support will have implications for security for British citizens at home and abroad. Mr Blair said security had been stepped up at British military bases around the world.
Business and financial institutions were being advised how to protect themselves, the Prime Minister said. But while the new safeguards would cause inconvenience, life in Britain would go on.
Mr Blair said: "Business and everyday life can continue as normal." William Hague, the outgoing Conservative leader, said the attacks amounted to "an act of war against civilisation".
Charles Kennedy, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: "The international democratic community must come together as never before to see down the forces of sheer evil that perpetrate such crimes."
Dr George Carey, the Archbishop of Canterbury, called for prayer in response to the attacks and said many churches would remain open for private prayer and reflection.
Always our steadfast ally and friend!
"... a soaring soul,
As free as a mountain bird,
His energetic fist
Ever ready to resist
A dictatorial word."
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