Shared Sacrifice

The Daily Mail, via Drudge

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has defended the decision to go war with Iraq after being booed by anti-war protesters as she visited a school today.

Ms Rice thanked Britain today for sharing in the sacrifices needed to protect democratic freedoms.

Dr Rice, who is visiting the North West as the guest of Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, said: "Today on behalf of President Bush I would like to thank the citizens and the Government of Great Britain for the willingness to share in the sacrifices for freedom."

Dr Rice said the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon had reminded America of its "own vulnerability to outside attack" for the first time in years.

And she added: "On July 7 when Britain also experienced that hostility, I hope that Britain felt the support of the United States in our joint desire to defeat those forces that are so hostile to our democratic principles."

Dr Rice warned that innocent lives will be lost unless action is taken against terrorists. She was delivering a Chatham House lecture on liberal democracy at Ewood Park in Blackburn.

Dr Rice said the 9/11 attacks in the US and the 7/7 bombings here had exposed the "true threat of global terrorism".

And she warned: "No matter of just police work of course, because if we wait for terrorists to attack, then 3,000 people die on one September morning or dozens are murdered on their commute to work.

"This forces us to think anew about how we will keep our societies both open and safe at the same time and that is no easy task.

"We are all finding our own solutions within our democratic systems."

Dr Rice, whose visit has sparked anti-war protests, acknowledged: "I know that there is a lot of concern in Britain, as well as in Europe and in other parts of the world, that the United States is not adequately guaranteeing both our need for security and our respect for the law.

"We in America welcome the free exchange of opinions with our allies about this issue, especially here in a place like Britain.

"But I also want to say today that no one should ever doubt America's commitment to justice and rule of law."

Secretary of State Rice also met with Muslim leaders in British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw's district. Washington Post here.

Transcript of just released 9-11 tapes here.

The attack in London only happened last summer, in the capitol city of our oldest and strongest ally. God bless and keep the victims and their families. And we need to keep fighting the good fight.