Bush pays tribute to Nato

The US President has praised America's friends in Nato for their swift and solid support.

He told secretary-general Lord Robertson he would make "a good Texan".

Lord Robertson said he was proud Nato was leading the global coalition against terror.

Mr Bush said: "When Nato invoked the collective defence clause it didn't take long for our friends to respond. This was an act of great friendship. Our nation will never forget it."

He again thanked Britain for "standing side by side with us in Afghanistan", and paid tribute to all the other countries who had offered logistical and military help or frozen terrorists' finances.

He also mentioned nations outside Nato, such as China and Russia, who are supporting the campaign. He said: "Nato craft are on their way to the US to help defend our country. This has never happened before.

"Lord Robertson has provided extraordinary leadership. He's a good Scotsman like many Americans are. He could have been a Texan because he's courageous, open, forthright and not afraid to take a stand."

Lord Robertson paid tribute to Mr Bush's leadership: "We stand shoulder to shoulder in a new kind of conflict and one we have to win.

"The Nato allies wanted to move beyond sadness and sympathy to solidarity and support. Nato still represents the biggest permanent coalition on the planet.

"It's providing serious, strong, practical support for the US. These terrorists are not ten feet tall, they are not unvanquishable. But we are. We can win and we certainly will. I am proud Nato is at the heart of this global coalition."