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Bush Defiant Ahead of Visit to Britain
US President George W. Bush said late Tuesday that he remained determined to develop a missile defense shield and to oppose the Kyoto treaty on global warming.
Talking to BBC ahead of a visit to London where he will meet British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Bush reaffirmed his plans to press ahead with his controversial defense and environmental policies.
In defending his ambitious plan for a missile defense shield, Bush was animated and adamant.
"It's about time a leader stepped forward and made it clear that Russia is not the enemy, and therefore we shouldn't have a treaty that was written to clarify that status... it's a new day," Bush said.
The planned shield, which would break the terms of the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, is viewed with skepticism in most European countries, and deep suspicion by Russia and some other nations.
On the Kyoto treaty, Bush simply dismissed the existing protocol as not a proper way to proceed.
"I've got an obligation to the working people of America to pursue a policy that protects the environment but also promotes economic growth," he told BBC in an interview given on late Tuesday night.
"We take the issue very seriously. We do emit greenhouse gases but we are also the largest economy in the world and I assure my European friends that we take the issue seriously," he said.
"We believe we have to all work together to reduce greenhouse gases. However, the protocol that I have inherited is not the proper way to proceed. We share the goals but the methodology needs to be assessed," he added.
Bush will arrive in London late Wednesday. During the trip, his first state visit to Britain since taking office, he will also meet Queen Elithebeth at a state dinner at the Buckingham palace.
He will then fly to the Italian city of Genoa for the Group of Eight summit of leading world powers, where discussions are likely to be dominated by the thorny issues of global warming and missile defense.
Earlier this week, Bush said the visit would "confirm and renew " the strong relationship between Britain and America.
He said his "strong personal relationship" with Blair was "most helpful to making sure our countries continue the tie that binds."
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