President Bush continued his European trip by arriving in Moscow. Before leaving Germany, which was the first leg of his European tour, he called for unity in the international fight against terrorism in a speech at the Reichstag building, the German parliament in Berlin. The U.S. President expressed gratitude to the German people and government for their support of the U.S.-led fight against terrorism. Mr. Bush stated that terrorist attacks cannot be ignored. He added that after the terrorist attacks on America, civilized societies sent a clear message to terrorists that they are determined to defend peace and freedom. Three members of the German parliament, who opposed the expansion of the anti-terror war to Iraq, attempted to disrupt Mr. Bush's speech by chanting, 'Mr. Bush, stop your war.' Many Europeans have expressed concern about U.S. foreign and economic policies. On Wednesday, thousands protested in the streets of Berlin against U.S. policies regarding trade issues, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Iraq issue, and global environmental concerns. Before the speech and after meeting with German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, Mr. Bush stated that he does not have a clear plan for an attack on Iraq. Mr. Bush, who arrived in Germany late Wednesday, will leave the country for Moscow today. President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to sign a new arms control treaty in Moscow on Friday.
President Bush Calls for Unity in the International Fight Against Terrorism - 2002-05-23
President Bush called for international unity against terrorism during his speech in Berlin, expressing gratitude to Germany for its support. He faced protests from German parliament members opposing the Iraq war, highlighting growing European concerns about U.S. foreign policies. This event underscores the tensions in U.S.-European relations post-9/11.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
President Bush delivered a speech in Berlin calling for international unity against terrorism while facing protests from German parliament members opposed to the Iraq war. He acknowledged the support of Germany in the fight against terrorism but admitted he lacked a clear plan for Iraq.
- Bush's speech was met with protests from members of the German parliament.
- Thousands protested U.S. policies in Berlin, highlighting European discontent.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Following the September 11 attacks, the U.S. launched a global campaign against terrorism, which included military actions in Afghanistan and discussions about Iraq. This period marked a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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