WASHINGTON, D.C. — Vice President Mike Pence made “clear” on Monday night that in the wake of a terror attack it should be “cause for alarm” that the military would have to be deployed to protect citizens at concerts, marathons or simply taking a walk — a reference eluding to comments from London’s Mayor.
Pence brought greetings from President Donald Trump to the crowd gathered for the Atlantic Council awards ceremony, as well as a message from the President, an expression of sorrow from the “administration and all the American people for the horrific terrorist attack just two days ago against our cherished friend and beloved ally, the United Kingdom.”
“They are just the latest innocents to suffer at the hands of terrorists, joining those who died in Manchester, in Paris, in Istanbul, in Brussels, Berlin, San Bernardino, and too many other places — victims of barbaric acts of terrorism,” said Pence, offering prayers as well as “our unwavering resolve.”
The Vice President quoted President Trump’s words from just the night before at Ford’s Theater where Trump said, “This bloodshed must end … this bloodshed will end.”
“Now is the time for NATO and this Transatlantic Alliance to stand united and stand strong in the face of global terrorism,” said Pence. “Our enemies seek to divide us so that they might defeat us … I say with confidence and with faith we will drive the cancer of terrorism from the face of the Earth, and we will do so together.”
Pence referred to Trump’s April meeting with Secretary General Stoltenberg during which the U.S. President reaffirmed “unwavering” U.S. commitment to the NATO Alliance.
The Vice President turned to words from Trump that were spoken at the recent unveiling of the NATO Article 5 memorial, calling all to rise together and confront the “grave security concerns” facing the Alliance.
Pence remarked:
From Russia’s efforts to redraw international borders by force, to Iran’s attempts to destabilize the Middle East, to the global menace of terrorism that can strike anywhere, at any time — it seems that the world is more dangerous today than at any point since the fall of Communism a quarter century ago.
He called the Alliance to continue to evolve and confront threats from adversaries “new and old.”
The Vice President eluded to criticism from President Trump of London Mayor Sadiq Khan for comments following the weekend Islamic terror attack on London. Khan had instructed those who may see increased police presence in London “not to be alarmed,” and that London remained one of the safest cities in the world:
To be clear: It should be “cause for alarm” to us all, that we need to deploy our military to protect our citizens going to a concert, watching a marathon, or simply taking a stroll on a Saturday night because that is not the way a free people should ever be forced to live.
His statement was met with applause from the crowd.
It should be cause for alarm that we need to deploy our military to protect our citizens going to a concert, a marathon, or for a stroll. pic.twitter.com/gXFodHcl5G
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) June 6, 2017
Khan, London’s first ever Muslim mayor, has a history of animosity toward Trump. The morning after the attack and Khan’s comments about increased police presence and no reason for alarm, Trump tweeted criticizing Khan’s statement. Khan has since called for the state visit of President Trump to the U.K. to be canceled, but it is not the first time the London Mayor has done so.
Khan made a similar call in January after President Trump’s executive order to restrict travel from seven majority-Muslim countries that were identified under the Obama Administration as terror-prone. However within days of his call to ban Trump, Khan hosted a gathering of ambassadors and dignitaries from 11 of 16 countries which ban Israeli passport holders from traveling to their nations.
Trump tweeted again on Monday regarding Khan, “Pathetic excuse by London Mayor Sadiq Khan who had to think fast on his ‘no reason to be alarmed’ statement. MSM is working hard to sell it!”
As of May 23 Europe had seen a terror attack attempted on average every nine days in 2017. London also saw a terrorist attack on March 22 when a terrorist used a car to mow down pedestrians, ram into the gates of Parliament, and before exiting the car began stabbing. ISIS supporters celebrated the attack.
In his address on Monday, Pence expressed “appreciation and congratulations” for Atlantic Council Distinguished International Leadership Award winner NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Pence also recognized Prime Minister Markovic of Montenegro with congratulations for the country’s accession to NATO that same day. Pence went on to recap the history of NATO and the Marshall Plan that preceded it.
Fred Kempee serves as President of the Atlantic Council and Jon Huntsman serves as Chairman.
Follow Michelle Moons on Twitter @MichelleDiana
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