by Mark Silva
Early in his presidency, President Bush made his first appearance in Europe with a speech in Warsaw making his commitment to "a united Europe.''
Tomorrow, at the summit of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization whose expansion the United States is actively promoting, Bush will speak about the need for a more robust defense against threats to Europe -- a missile shield which the U.S. hopes to establish in Poland -- and the need for the NATO alliance to press its fight against terrorism in Afghanistan.
"Just two weeks ago, Osama bin Laden issued an audio recording in which he threatened Europe with new attacks,'' the president plans to say in Bucharest. "We need to take the words of the enemy seriously. The terrorist threat is real, it is deadly, and defeating this enemy must be the top priority of the NATO alliance.''
(President Bush toured St. Sophia's Cathedral in Kiev, Ukraine, today -- pictured above. Earlier, he said that Russia will not wield veto power over Ukraine's NATO aspirations, but countries such as France and Germany stand ready to block the former Soviet republic, fearful of further straining ties with Moscow. (AP Photo by Gleb Garanich)
“In June 2001, I came to Europe on my first trip as president and spoke to the students and faculty at Warsaw University,’’ Bush plans to say, according to excerpts of his remarks released by the White House.. “I affirmed America’s commitment to a united Europe, bound to the United States by ties of history, trade, and friendship.
“I spoke those words on the soil of a nation on the Baltic,'' Bush will say. “Today, on the soil of a Black Sea nation, I have come to see those words fulfilled. The NATO alliance that meets here this week now stretches from the shores of Klaipeda to the beaches of Neptun. And here in Bucharest, we will extend the circle of freedom even further, by expanding the NATO alliance to include new members from the Balkans.
“A decade ago, the Balkans was a region wracked by war, fanaticism, and ethnic cleansing,’’ he will say. “Today, it is a region growing in liberty, tolerance, and peace. These changes are the result of determined actions by NATO, and the courageous choices of new Balkan leaders, who have worked to overcome the violence and divisions of the past.
“In recognition of their progress, tomorrow NATO will make a historic decision on the admission of three Balkan nations - Croatia, Albania, and Macedonia to the Atlantic Alliance. The United States will strongly support inviting these nations to join NATO. These countries have walked the difficult path of reform and built thriving free societies.’’
“Here in Bucharest,’’ he will add, “we must make clear that NATO welcomes the aspirations of Georgia and Ukraine for membership in NATO and offers them a clear path forward toward that goal. So my country’s position is clear: NATO should welcome Georgia and Ukraine into the Membership Action Plan. And NATO membership must remain open to all of Europe’s democracies that seek it, and are ready to share in the responsibilities of NATO membership.
“Thanks to their courage, and the skill of NATO personnel, a nation that was once a safe haven for al Qaeda is now a democracy where boys and girls are going to school, new roads and hospitals are being built, and people are looking to the future with new hope,’’ he will say. “Afghanistan still faces many difficult challenges. The enemy has been driven from its strongholds, and no longer controls a single Afghan city. But as this enemy has been defeated on the battlefield, they have turned increasingly to terrorist tactics such as suicide attacks and roadside bombs…
“Just two weeks ago, Osama bin Laden issued an audio recording in which he threatened Europe with new attacks. We need to take the words of the enemy seriously. The terrorist threat is real, it is deadly, and defeating this enemy must be the top priority of the NATO Alliance.
“Our alliance must maintain its resolve and finish the fight in Afghanistan,’’ Bush will say.
“One of the most important steps we can take to protect our citizens is the deployment of new capabilities to defend against ballistic missile attack,’’ he will add. “On Nine Eleven, we saw the damage our enemies could do by hijacking planes loaded with jet fuel turning them into missiles and using them to strike innocent people. Today, dangerous regimes are pursuing far more powerful capabilities, and building ballistic missiles that could allow them to deliver the world’s most dangerous weapons to the capitals of free nations.
“The need for missile defense in Europe is real and it is urgent. Iran is pursuing technology that could be used to produce nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles of increasing range that could deliver them…’’
“Today, we have no way to defend Europe against this emerging threat – so we must deploy ballistic missile defenses here that can. The United States is working with Poland and the Czech Republic to deploy a system that could defend countries in Europe from a limited, long-range attack from the Middle East. We are working with NATO on developing allied capabilities to defend against short- and medium-range attacks from the Middle East.’’
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Comments
I think the time to realize the terrorist threat is real was in August of 2001 when EVERYONE was telling you so. Idiot.
Posted by: Paul | April 1, 2008 5:04 PM
I think the time to realize the terrorist threat is real was in August of 2001 when EVERYONE was telling you so. Idiot.
Posted by: Paul | April 1, 2008 5:04 PM
NO PAUL -
You are the IDIOT.
Bush is doing what needs to be done and has to deal with idiots like you - nothing constructive just call people names and preach hate - GET LOST- YOU AND YOUR KIND-WE ARE SICK OF YOU!
Posted by: save America from the hateful left! | April 1, 2008 5:46 PM
Notice how Bush Bin Laden appears with some threat every time a neo-con wants to be voted into office? or whenever there's a new DoD contract being offered?
Posted by: Bob | April 1, 2008 5:55 PM
The real terrorist threat comes from the Whitehouse. George Bush and Dick Cheney have killed more Americans than Osama bin Laden.
Posted by: Rick/Sneads Ferry, NC | April 1, 2008 6:09 PM
"BUSH BITBURG SUMMIT SPEAKS"
YES, I'M BUILDING A 270 MILE "BERLIN WALL" ALONG THE BORDERS OF ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO, CALIFORNIA, AND CRAWFORD TEXAS.
YES, WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION WERE REAL!
I DIDN'T FABRICATE "INTELLIGENCE"
AL QUEDA WAS REAL AND IS REAL TODAY!
THE TALIBAN HAS BEEN DEFEATED! POPPY IS UP!
RONALD REAGAN IS WITH ME EVERY STEP OF THE WAY "SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER"
YOUR NO "HAGUE" BUT YOU ARE THE "SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER OF EUROPE" I REPEAT THE "WAR ON TERROR" IS REAL.
IT'S NOT CORPORATE!
IT'S NOT BLACKWATER!
IT'S NOT REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT. IT'S REAL.
"SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER OF USAFE"
I'M SAFE, USAFER, BECAUSE OF MY "WAR ON TERROR"
I'M THE "MAN OF STEEL"
I'M THE AMERICAN COMMANDER GUY. I'M YOUR "NATO" SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER AND WHAT I SAY GO!
OF COURSE THERE IS NO REAL "RETURN ON SUCCESS"
I NEED THOSE 5 BRIGADES.
YOU SAW THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT AKA MALIKI STAND UP WHEN WE STOOD DOWN.
"RETURN ON SUCCESS" THAT'S NOT A COMPLETE SENTENCE. IT'S A "STRATEGIC JOINT VENTURE" BETWEEN ME AND MY CORPORATIONS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES BOTH HERE AND IN EUROPE.
ALLIED SUPREME COMMANDERS ON THE GROUND. IT'S NOT A TREATY, ITS A "CORPORATE TREATY"
NOW THANK YOU FOR COMING I ENJOYED IT!
"SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDERS OF USAFE, EUROPE, AND EUROPEAN ALLIES DOWN THERE IN "HAGUE" COUNTRY.
DID YOU LIKE MY "AT&T GIPHONEHOME CALLING CARDS"
THAT BROUGHT A LOT OF "EUROS" A LOT!
Posted by: Roger Morris | April 1, 2008 6:10 PM
Bush just wants to recruit more fear feeders to join his fascist war on "terror" (whatever that means). Why does the United States need to build a ballistic missile station in Poland? if this was seen as a threat why havn't the free nations that are in such peril create a UN mandated base so that the discretion of terrorism does not have to pass through the fascist filter of the CIA, Pentagon and idiocracy of our president's legacy.
Posted by: john | April 1, 2008 6:35 PM
Terrorist threat is only a fraction of what this President and his fearmongers have made it out to be.
They've been trying to kill a gnat with a cannon.
Posted by: dogjudge | April 1, 2008 6:38 PM
HOW DARE YOU THREATEN US WITH LETTING US BE ATTACKED AGAIN!
Wasn't once enough?
And--Osama bin DEAD since November, anyway.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIO8B6fpFSQ
Crikey, the Bushies use this guy like he's the Dread Pirate Roberts!
Posted by: golden oldie | April 1, 2008 6:39 PM
One can only conclude that Mr. Bush is running out of "spooks" with which to frighten not only our citizens but the entire world. He apparently assumes that the policies of every nation are as irrational as those he has pursued, which can only be described as disasterous. The only nuclear power in the M/East for the foreseeable future is Israel and Iran has nothing to gain and everything to lose by developing and using nuclear weapons. Pakistan and India are also wild cards but to what end would they nuke Europe. That leaves only Russia staring down our gun barrels and this they understandably resent. A true statesman would be urging that the entire world work toward no nuclear weapons and stop this silly sabre rattling.
Posted by: Frank | April 1, 2008 6:56 PM
"Bush in Europe: 'The terrorist threat is real"
Be Scared, Be Really Really Scared!!!
...and for all of our rightwing luntic fringers out there, don't forget to wet your pants before you go to bed tonight.
That's an order from Republican Prez Doofus himself!!!
Posted by: John E | April 1, 2008 7:01 PM
Can't we just lock him in the closet for another couple of months? Seriously, he is an embarrassment. The Europeans have known terrorism for far longer than we have, and here is Chimpy lecturing them.
WORST PRESIDENT EVER
Posted by: weinerdog43 | April 1, 2008 7:30 PM
"The real terrorist threat comes from the Whitehouse. George Bush and Dick Cheney have killed more Americans than Osama bin Laden."
No, actually Ted Kennedy has killed more Americans than Bush & Cheney combined.
Posted by: mike t | April 1, 2008 8:35 PM
mike t,
Right you are; From the IRA, to Badder/Meinhoff Gang, to Red Brigades, to Algerian terrorist groups, to Quadaffey, to Black September, and on and on they were there first. We were the clueless babes in the woods.
But America can't remember any of that.
Posted by: C.Morris | April 1, 2008 10:07 PM
correction;
I intended to address weinerdog, not mike t in my last posting. Apologies all around.
Thank you
Posted by: C.Morris | April 1, 2008 10:23 PM
Of course the terrorist threat is real. It may come from anywhere. Even from republicans like Timothy McVeigh. What's that got to do with Iraq?
Posted by: Bruce Y | April 2, 2008 12:03 AM
Yep there is a real terror threat and Osama is from where again???
Saudi Arabia...Hmmm
Speaking of scary read this guys comment.
"Bush is doing what needs to be done and has to deal with idiots like you - nothing constructive just call people names and preach hate - GET LOST- YOU AND YOUR KIND-WE ARE SICK OF YOU!"
Posted by: save America from the hateful left! | April 1, 2008 5:46 PM
Mr Venom dude have you looked in the mirror lately. I think you have anger issues and are clearly deranged. Not making a judgement on whether or not that's a good or bad thing. I'm just saying I hope you don't work at the post office. Although I here the CIA has a higher rate of divorce, alcoholism etc...
Posted by: Bush Family Value$ | April 2, 2008 3:42 AM
I can hardly wait until next year when this dude is no longer speaking for the US and using our money to take his family on vacation.
Posted by: lochnessmonster | April 2, 2008 7:03 AM
"GET LOST- YOU AND YOUR KIND-WE ARE SICK OF YOU!
Posted by: save America from the hateful left! | April 1, 2008 5:46 PM"
This one reminds of that common supermarket scene where some spoiled little brat throws a tantrum. Hilarious. (TM)
Posted by: C.Hussein.Morris | April 2, 2008 9:40 AM
When pResident Doogie Howser said, "the terrorist threat is real", he should have followed that by saying, "I'm living proof of that! Obey me or I'll attack your countries too!"
Posted by: BC | April 2, 2008 3:10 PM