[Equackasous]

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/wa...world_economy/

UK's Brown seeks US help to aid world economy
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown greeted legislators in Washington, D.C. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown greeted legislators in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/ Getty Images)
By Susan Milligan
Globe Staff / March 5, 2009

* Email|
* Print|
* Single Page|
* Yahoo! Buzz|
* ShareThis

Text size – +

WASHINGTON - Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Britain urged American lawmakers yesterday to join with him in battling the "economic hurricane" ravaging the globe, saying "the most pro-American European leadership in recent memory" is eager to work toward banking and financial changes to pull the world out of recession.
Discuss
COMMENTS (7)
Related Coverage

* Photos Kennedy to be knighted
* Many in Mass. may get mortgage help
* Mortgage workout vote due
* Obama taps Fla. emergency chief to head FEMA
* Summit to study road ahead on healthcare
* Bush aides to testify on US attorney firings
* UK's Brown seeks US help to aid world economy
* Notebook: McCain keeps up earmark battle
* More political coverage

And Brown opened with his nation's own gesture of respect and friendship, announcing that Senator Edward M. Kennedy had been awarded an honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II.

Calling the ailing Kennedy "one of your most distinguished senators, known in every continent, and a great friend," Brown brought a joint session of Congress to its feet in sustained applause as he revealed the honor, rare for an American figure.

"Northern Ireland today is at peace, more Americans have healthcare, children around the world are going to school, and for all those things we owe a great debt to the life and courage of Senator Edward Kennedy," Brown said, listing goals Kennedy has worked on throughout his 46-year Senate career.

Kennedy, 77, who is battling brain cancer, was not present for the announcement, but was told the night before by the prime minister, a personal friend.

"I'm deeply grateful to Her Majesty the Queen and to Prime Minister Brown for this extraordinary honor. I have always prized the opportunity to work with the British government and strengthen and deepen the role of our two countries as leading beacons of democracy in the world," the Massachusetts Democrat said in a statement.

Noting the long history between the Kennedy family and Britain, Kennedy added, "for me this honor is moving and personal - a reflection not only of my public life, but of things that profoundly matter to me as an individual. I accept this honor in the spirit in which it is given, with a continuing commitment to be a voice for the voiceless and for the shared ideals of freedom and fairness which are so fundamental to the character of our two countries."

Representative Patrick Kennedy, one of the first to greet Brown after his speech, joked that he would have to start calling his father "sir" - although the honor does not, under British tradition, entitle the senator to the moniker "Sir Edward Kennedy," as Brown informally called him on Tuesday.

"Typical of my dad, he said, 'I hope the Irish don't get angry with me for accepting this,' " said the younger Kennedy, a Rhode Island Democrat who said he assured his father that his long work on the Irish peace process would erase any resentment about accepting a title from the queen.

Notably, Brown made no mention of violence in Northern Ireland in his address - an omission Representative Richard Neal, a Springfield Democrat long involved in the Irish peace process, called a "staggering" commentary on the progress that has been made. Neal joined several other Irish-American lawmakers in escorting Brown down the aisle of the House floor, a courtesy that would have been unthinkable during the darkest days of the conflict.Continued...