Former Spanish Prime Minister Jose-Maria Aznar has offered this
staunch defense of his friend and former colleague, George W. Bush.
Le Figaro, France
'What We Owe
George W. Bush'
"He decided to fight for the
most important cause. And he stuck to that mission, while conscious that the
struggle that we are involved in is a struggle of ideas, principles and values
- the same that inspired the American and French revolutions."
By Jose-Maria Aznar*
Translated By Nicolas Dagher
France
- Le Figaro - Original Article (French)
As George W. Bush readies
himself to leave the White House, former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria
Aznar salutes the international accomplishments of the American president.
A political leader must
assume his responsibilities steadfastly and with demonstrated courage, as he is
required to advance just and noble causes. It is precisely this mission that
has been accomplished by George W. Bush as president of the United States. I'm
aware that many people don't share this point of view, but history will give
him his due. Even if at present his work isn't recognized, and will not be, he
has greatly contributed to defending the cause of freedom. His determination
and vision were fundamental to the survival of liberty in countries that have
been able to benefit from it, and have extended freedom to countries that for
too long have lived under tyranny and barbarism. When it's possible to vote in
places where that option was hitherto inconceivable, freedom has triumphed.
There are fewer and fewer murderous dictators and governments able to harbor
terrorists, and there is greater freedom to trade.
Admiring a replica of the
Statue of Liberty on the Isle of the Swans in Paris [Île des Cygnes 
] is always
inspiring. Looking to the West, it seems to salute her older sister thousands
of miles away who, since 1866, has welcomed immigrants who had set sail for
America. The symbolic power of this icon has been and will remain a source of
inspiration and hope around the world for generations. It also symbolizes the
friendship between France and the United States, without forgetting the
decisive role of the Old Continent, with all of its political and philosophical
tradition, that prepared the ground for the advent of the United States.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
The history of the 20th
century in Europe perfectly illustrates the concept that, despite its strength,
freedom is fragile. On many occasions it has been forced to capitulate. If,
finally, it has become established, it was due to the sacrifice of many people
on both sides of the Atlantic who were willing to give their lives to protect
it. A free Paris and Berlin are now witness to the friendship and commitment of
the United States to freedom in Europe.
At the end of the last
century after the defeat of communism on our continent, we thought that the
freedom we enjoyed as Europeans would no longer be threatened. The fall of the
Berlin Wall showed even those who thought paradise was behind that wall that a
lack of freedom results in nothing but moral poverty.
These 20 years that followed
the fall of the Berlin Wall have demonstrated the capacity for moral and
economic regeneration in free societies. Our reunited Europe is the most
tangible proof of this.
But September 11th, 2001
sounded the death knell of that dream. On that day of infamy, we experienced a
brutal attack on freedom. The terrorists chose, with macabre premeditated
precision, the symbols that they wanted to destroy. Their ultimate objective was
and remains the destruction of freedom itself.
The fact that George W. Bush,
who was president during this tragedy, within weeks will be able to cede power
to his successor without the United States having undergone a similar attack,
is proof of his success. He made defense and the expansion of freedom central
to his central political activities.
Freedom triumphs when we show
the courage and determination to defend it. Freedom also wins when there are
more nations capable to choosing their leaders freely. And freedom is able to
win out when greater economic opportunity exists.
That is precisely the legacy
that George W. Bush has preserved, allowed to prosper and is leaving to his
successor. That is what we will ultimately recall about his mandate. He decided
to fight for the most important cause. And he stuck to that mission, while
conscious that the struggle we are involved in is a struggle of ideas,
principles and values - the same that inspired the American and French revolutions.
That determination and these
ideas were clearly outlined in Bush's second inaugural speech 
. The only force capable of laying low the hatred that
animated the terrorists on September 11th is surely the power of freedom. The
best hope for those who today live in poverty and who are in search of a better
future is freedom. The survival of liberty in our country also depends
on the triumph of that value in other lands. The best guarantee of peace is the
expansion of freedom and democracy around the world.
That task is not that of any
single nation or single president. This must be a commitment that will long
preoccupy those of us who believe in freedom. At the time for saying goodbye,
at a time that is often marked by reports of ingratitude, it seems only fair to
acknowledge that George W. Bush has charted the path that we need to follow in
these dark and difficult times, but which is also tinged with hope. He
transmits to us the greatest bequest: the legacy of freedom.
*José María Alfredo Aznar
y López served as prime minister of Spain from 1996 to 2004.
CLICK HERE FOR FRENCH
VERSION
[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
November 17, 7:55pm]
