San Diego Union Tribune

July 8, 2005

Leaders reiterate resolve after 'barbaric' acts
Blair's return to G-8 conference signals solidarity

By Finlay Lewis
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE

GLENEAGLES, Scotland – President Bush led a chorus of world denunciation of London's deadly bomb attacks yesterday, expressing support for the British and declaring, "We will not yield to these people, will not yield to terrorists."

The explosions 425 miles away from this pastoral part of Scotland abruptly turned the summit on global warming and African poverty into a war council. Gone for the day were any signs of discord over Bush's strategy for prosecuting the war on terrorism.

Instead, the allies rallied behind their host, British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

With the other seven leaders of the Group of Eight countries behind him, a somber Blair blamed terrorists for the bombings, which he denounced as "barbaric" moments before returning to London.

But in a sign that terrorists will not be allowed to divert him from his duties here, the prime minister returned hours later to host a summit dinner and attend the day's final session.

The summit schedule was altered to permit the leaders to assess their nations' security situations. Throughout the day, White House chief of staff Andrew Card and national security adviser Stephen Hadley briefed Bush, who also convened a secure video conference with top national security and homeland security aides in Washington.

Joining Bush and Blair at the G-8 meeting are the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and Canada – their flags at half-staff above this golf resort in the Perthshire countryside.

As Blair was leaving for London via helicopter, Bush declared, "The contrast between what we've seen on the TV screens here, what's taken place in London and what's taking place here is incredibly vivid to me. On the one hand, we have people here who are working to alleviate poverty, to help rid the world of the pandemic of AIDS, working on ways to have a clean environment. And on the other hand, you've got people killing innocent people."

In language starkly reminiscent of his vow to hunt down those behind the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Bush added, "We will find them. We will bring them to justice and at the same time we will spread an ideology of hope and compassion that will overwhelm their ideology of hate."

The tone of solidarity was echoed by French President Jacques Chirac, a critic of the decision by the U.S. and British governments to invade Iraq.

Chirac told reporters that yesterday's bombings were "a totally inhumane act" aimed at innocent civilians "by savages." He wondered whether the bombers hoped to disrupt the summit but added, "All they've achieved is to increase the solidarity" of the summit's nations.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, another critic of the Iraq war, called the bombings "perfidious attacks."

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has called for a phased withdrawal of coalition forces from Iraq, issued a statement saying, "No matter where such inhumane crimes occur in London, New York or Moscow or other countries of the world – they demand unconditional condemnation."

British transport police began receiving reports of an incident on a London subway line about the time Blair and Bush were wrapping up a photo session after a private breakfast meeting.

A little over an hour later, Scotland Yard reported that it was investigating "a major incident" as the leaders began gathering for their first business session. As Bush and other G-8 leaders filed in to discuss climate change and the global economy, Blair quietly alerted them to the attacks.

He was temporarily replaced as summit chairman by British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.

Later, the leaders of Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa discussed how their rapidly industrializing economies could contribute to a strategy for curbing greenhouse gases blamed for global warming.

Bush and Blair, allies in Iraq and the war on terror, had long been at odds over the issue of climate change. But the summit participants appeared ready to announce agreement on a common strategy today.

In a late afternoon news conference, Chirac said the breakthrough was the result of weeks of work and was not a response to the bombings.

Unlike the other G-8 leaders, Bush has refused to commit the United States to signing the Kyoto Protocol, which calls for mandatory reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The president has said such an approach would have "wrecked" the U.S. economy.

Chirac said it was the Bush administration that gave ground, but White House aides said other nations had come around to the administration's view that new technologies are the key to solving global warming.

In its final session today, the leaders are to discuss Blair's proposal to increase aid to Africa and remove trade barriers against African economies.

»Next Story»