Camp David, Md. – President Bush and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown forged a unified stand Monday on Iraq, aiming to head off talk of a splintering partnership in the face of an unpopular war.
“There’s no doubt in my mind he understands the stakes of the struggle,” Bush said of Brown after two days of talks at the tranquil presidential retreat in Maryland’s Catoctin Mountains.
The visit was closely watched for any sign of daylight between the president and prime minister after four years of unwavering support by Tony Blair, Brown’s predecessor. Blair was saddled with the nickname “poodle” by critics at home who felt he was too compliant with Bush’s policies, particularly in Iraq.
Brown told Bush that he shares the U.S. view of gradually turning over security of Iraq to its people, based on signs of clear progress and advice from military leaders.
“We have duties to discharge and responsibilities to keep in support of the democratically elected government,” Brown said of Britain’s commitment to Iraq.
Still, as the U.S. has built up troops, Britain has been pulling them out. Britain has about 5,500 troops based mainly on the outskirts of Basra. That’s a significant drawdown since the war began, and Brown hinted more reductions were coming.
There were also subtle but notable differences between the leaders – mainly in how they described the terrorist threat – that could end up having broader significance.
Brown maintained that “Afghanistan is the front line against terrorism,” in contrast to Bush’s common refrain that Iraq is the central front in the war on terror.
The president said the fight against terrorism is a battle of good against evil; he referred to it as a struggle over ideology many times. Brown steered away from that.
“Terrorism is not a cause; it is a crime,” Brown said. “It is a crime against humanity.”
Bush said he listened carefully to Brown’s thinking and was reassured. “He gets it,” Bush said.
“What’s interesting about this struggle … is does he understand it’s an ideological struggle? “And he does,” Bush said.
The leaders spoke in broad strokes about areas of agreement: halting violence in Darfur, pushing through an international trade deal, and combating HIV/AIDS and malaria.
Brown later met with Senate and House leaders and praised the two countries’ relationship.
“I believe Winston Churchill came here, to the House, and said many years ago that our joint inheritance is a belief in liberty, a belief in opportunity for all and a belief in the dignity of every individual,” he said.
