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US 'a difficult friend'
27/03/2006 10:25 - (SA)
Canberra - British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Monday sought to dispel views that he is an unquestioning ally of the United States and condemned growing anti-Americanism as a hindrance to closer global ties.
Blair, who has faced domestic criticism for his support for the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003, told a rare joint sitting of the Australian parliament in Canberra that isolating the United States on the world stage was "madness".
Solving the world's problems needed an "active foreign policy of engagement, not isolation" between countries, the British Labour Party leader told lawmakers, and Washington needed to be on board as much as possible.
But he pointed out: "This alliance does not end with, but it does begin with America. For us in Europe and for you, this alliance is central. And I want to speak plainly here. I do not always agree with the US.
Americans not too involved
"Sometimes they can be difficult friends to have. But the strain of, frankly, anti-American feeling in parts of European politics is madness when set against the long-term interests of the world we believe in.
"The danger with America today is not that they are too much involved. The danger is that they decide to pull up the drawbridge and disengage. We need them involved. We want them engaged."
Blair also touched on the problems facing Iraq, where spiralling violence and sectarian unrest are fuelling debate about whether it has descended into civil war, and fears of a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan.
Britain has about 8 000 troops stationed mainly in Iraq's four southern states while Australia has a 900-strong contingent providing security to Japanese engineers involved in the reconstruction effort.
Both countries are also involved in post-Taliban Afghanistan.
Blair called on international allies to stand firm in the face of the current difficulties, saying: "If the going is tough, we tough it out."
"This is not a time to walk away. This is a time for the courage to see it through," he said.
A joined-up, steadfast and effective international approach would also help in the world beyond, he said.
"Wherever people live in fear, with no prospect of advance, we should be on their side; in solidarity with them, whether in Sudan, Zimbabwe, Burma, North Korea; and where countries, and there are many of them in the Middle East today, are in the process of democratic development, we should extend a helping hand," he added.
Such a "global alliance for global values" would also help towards eradicating world poverty and disease in Africa, as well as help end protracted wranglings over a deal in the Doha round of the World Trade Organisation talks.
Blair's speech - only the fourth by a foreign leader to a joint sitting of the Australian parliament - was the second of three planned foreign policy addresses by the British leader.
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