Bush set to meet bereaved families of British soldiers
President Bush is set to meet bereaved relatives of British soldiers who died in Iraq when he comes to the UK next week.
In an interview with British journalists in advance of his state visit next week the president said that the 54 British soldiers who have died in Iraq did so for a ‘noble cause’.
“I will tell them that their loved ones did not die in vain. The actions we have taken will make the world more secure and the world more peaceful in the long run,” he said, adding that the prayers of the American people are with the families.
During the interview he emphasised his strong friendship with Tony Blair and acknowledged that many people were against the war: ‘I can understand people not liking war. I don’t like war. War is the last choice a president should make, not the first,’ he stated.
‘I’m really looking forward to spending time with my friend – and I emphasise ‘my friend’ – Tony Blair. He’s a smart, capable, trustworthy friend, and we’ve got a lot to talk about,’ he added.
Addressing predictions that tens of thousands of protestors against the war are set to demonstrate during his stay in London he declared it ‘fantastic’ that the British people are free to demonstrate against him.
During his visit, the first full state visit of an American president since 1918, Mr Bush will stay at Buckingham Palace. He will hold talks in Downing Street with Mr Blair and meet both Charles Kennedy and Michael Howard.
