Blair and Bush 'united against terrorism'

Prime Minister Tony Blair and President George Bush today re-affirmed that they would not hold back in confronting the "menace of terrrorism".

Speaking at a joint press conference with President Bush at the Foreign Office in London, Mr Blair said the bomb attacks in Istanbul demonstrated "the evil these terrorists pose to innocent people everywhere".

Mr Blair said: "Once again we must affirm that in the face of this terrorism there must be no holding back, no compromise, no hesitation in confronting this menace, in attacking it wherever and whenever we can and in defeating it utterly."

President Bush told reporters: "The nature of the terrorists is evidenced once again - we see their utter contempt for innocent life. They hate freedom, they hate free nations."

Mr Blair said that blasts in Istanbul would not lessen Britain's commitment to Iraq.

"On the contrary, it shows how important it is to carry on until terrorism is defeated there as well," he said.

"Because it is in a free, democratic and stable Iraq, but not just the violence but the wretched and backward philosophy of these terrorists will be destroyed."

He said that the "fanatics of terror" who had carried out the attacks had shown themselves to be "callous brutal murders of the innocent".

He rejected any suggestion that Britain and America had brought the attacks on themselves.

"America did not attack al-Qa'ida on 11 September. Al-Qa'ida attacked America and in doing so, attacked not just America but the way of life of all people who believe in tolerance and freedom, justice and peace," he said.

Mr Blair said it required an "absolute unity of purpose" to defeat the terrorists.

"We must stand side by side with the United States of America to rid our world of this evil once and for all."

Mr Bush said the terrorists' cruelty was part of their strategy.

"These terrorists hope to intimidate, they hope to demoralise free nations ... they're not going to succeed."

He said: "Let me make it absolutely clear for our position as well: we stay (in Iraq) until the job gets done.

"What this latest terrorist outrage shows us is that this is a war, its main battleground is Iraq.

"We have got to make sure we defeat these terrorists, the former Saddam people, in Iraq. And we must do that because that is an essential part of defeating this fanaticism and extremism that is killing innocent people all over our world today.

"I can assure you of one thing: that when something like this happens today, our response is not to flinch or give way or concede one inch. We stand absolutely firm until this job is done, done in Iraq, done elsewhere in the world."

President Bush said that the number of US troops in Iraq would be determined by what commanders on the ground considered necessary to secure the country.

Mr Bush said no country other than the US had lost more lives in the 11 September terror attacks than Britain.

"Since that day no ally has accomplished more or sacrificed more in our common struggle to end terror," he said.

Mr Bush said the work in Iraq and Afghanistan was essential in the war to defeat global terrorism.

"The spread of freedom and the hope it brings is the surest way in the long term to combat despair and anger and resentment that feeds terror."

The mission in Iraq was "noble and necessary" and no act of thugs or killers would weaken the resolve of the US and Britain.

"We will finish the job we have begun," he said.

Britain and the US had together met the defining challenges of the last century and were meeting new challenges.

"In all that lies ahead in the defence of freedom and the advance of democracy, our two nations will continue to stand together."

President Bush was asked why so many people in Britain appeared to fear or even hate him.

He replied: "I would say freedom is beautiful. It is a fantastic thing to come to a country where people are able to express their views."

Pressed on why it appeared that so many people in this country hate him, he said: "I don't know that they do.

"All I know is that the people of Baghdad, for example, weren't allowed to do this up until recent history. Freedom is a wonderful thing.

"I fully understand people don't agree with war. But I hope that they agree with peace, and freedom, and liberty."

He added: "The Prime Minister and I have a solemn duty to protect our people, and that is exactly what I intend to do as the President of the United States - protect the people of my country."