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Bush and Brown vow co-operation | Bush and Brown vow co-operation |
(10 minutes later) | |
US President George W Bush and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown have pledged to forge a strategic relationship based on values shared between both nations. | US President George W Bush and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown have pledged to forge a strategic relationship based on values shared between both nations. |
They met at Camp David, near Washington, their first meeting since Mr Brown succeeded Tony Blair as UK PM. | They met at Camp David, near Washington, their first meeting since Mr Brown succeeded Tony Blair as UK PM. |
Talks focused on issues including Iraq, Afghanistan, Darfur and world trade. | Talks focused on issues including Iraq, Afghanistan, Darfur and world trade. |
Mr Brown denounced terrorism as a crime, not a cause, while Mr Bush said the UK fully understood the importance of striving for success in Iraq. | Mr Brown denounced terrorism as a crime, not a cause, while Mr Bush said the UK fully understood the importance of striving for success in Iraq. |
"The consequences of failure in Iraq would be a disaster for the United States, and this prime minister understands that," Mr Bush said. | "The consequences of failure in Iraq would be a disaster for the United States, and this prime minister understands that," Mr Bush said. |
The UK strongly backed the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, but now plans to reduce troop numbers and scale back its operations over the coming year. | The UK strongly backed the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, but now plans to reduce troop numbers and scale back its operations over the coming year. |
The BBC's Adam Brookes, at Camp David, says Mr Bush used soaring rhetoric on the subject of good and evil, while Gordon Brown was much more specific, detailing a long list of what the two men had talked about. | |
Warmth and humour | Warmth and humour |
However, Mr Brown denied suggestions that his view of terrorism differed greatly from that of Mr Bush. | However, Mr Brown denied suggestions that his view of terrorism differed greatly from that of Mr Bush. |
"We know we are in a common struggle, we know we have to work together, and we know we have to deal with it," he said. | "We know we are in a common struggle, we know we have to work together, and we know we have to deal with it," he said. |
"Today in 2007 we see the challenges are radically different to 10 years ago," Mr Brown added, citing climate change, Africa, and the search for a Middle East peace process as key issues. | "Today in 2007 we see the challenges are radically different to 10 years ago," Mr Brown added, citing climate change, Africa, and the search for a Middle East peace process as key issues. |
Our correspondent says the news conference was a concerted effort to give a strong impression of personal chemistry between the two men. | |
The US president spoke warmly of the so-called "special relationship" with the UK, describing it as "our most important bilateral relationship" - the same term used by Mr Brown ahead of his trip to the US. | The US president spoke warmly of the so-called "special relationship" with the UK, describing it as "our most important bilateral relationship" - the same term used by Mr Brown ahead of his trip to the US. |
The president said he found Mr Brown a warm, humorous man, far removed from the "dour Scotsman" image sometimes portrayed by the media. | The president said he found Mr Brown a warm, humorous man, far removed from the "dour Scotsman" image sometimes portrayed by the media. |
He also paid tribute to Mr Brown's personal strength in overcoming the death of his first child in 2002. | He also paid tribute to Mr Brown's personal strength in overcoming the death of his first child in 2002. |