Barack Obama: ‘The time for leadership is now’

President Barack Obama reaffirmed the special relationship between Britain and America during a speech to both Houses of Parliament in Westminster.

Noting that previous speakers included the Pope, the Queen and Nelson Mandela, he won prolonged laughter by adding that the list was “either a very high bar or the beginning of a very good joke”.

The President made several references to the US and UK’s shared values.

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He said: “Through the struggles of slaves and immigrants, women and ethnic minorities, former colonies and persecuted religions, we have learned better than most that the longing for freedom and human dignity is not English, or American, or western, it is universal and it beats in every heart.”

“As new threats spread across borders and oceans, we must dismantle terrorist networks and stop the spread of nuclear weapons, confront climate change and combat famine and disease.

“And as a revolution races through the streets of the Middle East and North Africa, the entire world has a stake in the aspirations of a generation that longs to determine its own destiny.”

Emerging economies

The US President insisted that the shift in global power need not be a threat to the west.

Mr Obama said the rapid growth of countries such as China, Brazil and India was welcome but did not mean declining influence for the US and Europe.

“Perhaps, the argument goes, these nations represent the future and the time for our leadership has passed. That argument is wrong. The time for our leadership is now.”

Our fight is focused on defeating al-Qaeda and its extremist allies. In that effort, we will not relent. Barack Obama

Quoting Adam Smith – seen as the father of modern capitalism – he said nations like the US and the UK had an “inherent advantage” in the global, market-based economy because it favoured “free-thinking and forward-looking” countries, with the best innovators and entrepreneurs.

“From Newton and Darwin, to Edison and Einstein, from Alan Turing to Steve Jobs, we have led the world in our commitment to science and cutting-edge research.”

‘Not at war with Islam’

President Obama hailed the history of NATO as “the most successful alliance in human history” and said it was now confronting the threats from al-Qaeda and other terrorist networks.

“Our nations are not and never will be at war with Islam,” said Mr Obama. “Our fight is focused on defeating al-Qaeda and its extremist allies. In that effort, we will not relent – as Osama bin Laden and his followers have learnt.

“As we fight an enemy that respects no law of war, we will continue to hold ourselves to a higher standard by living up to the values of rule of law and due process that we so ardently defend.”

Libya

President Obama said the US and UK had to act in Libya because “we embrace a broader responsibility”.

He added: “While we cannot stop every injustice, there are circumstances that cut through our caution – when a leader is threatening to massacre his people and the international community is calling for action.

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“That’s why we stopped a massacre in Libya and we will not relent until the people of Libya are protected and the shadow of tyranny is lifted.

“We will proceed with humility and the knowledge that we cannot dictate every outcome. Ultimately freedom must be won by the people themselves and not imposed from without.”